Kikas (footballer, born 1998)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Diogo Alves Rodrigues[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 September 1998[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Castelo Branco, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Eupen | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2009 | Benfica Castelo Branco | ||
| 2009–2010 | Sporting CP | ||
| 2010–2011 | Benfica Castelo Branco | ||
| 2011–2014 | Desportivo Castelo Branco | ||
| 2014–2017 | Vitória Guimarães | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2018 | Benfica Castelo Branco | 29 | (17) |
| 2018–2023 | B-SAD | 45 | (12) |
| 2020 | → Vilafranquense (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Doxa (loan) | 30 | (6) |
| 2021–2022 | → Mafra (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2022 | → União Leiria (loan) | 14 | (3) |
| 2023 | → Estrela Amadora (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2023–2026 | Estrela Amadora | 80 | (20) |
| 2026– | Eupen | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:06, 28 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
João Diogo Alves Rodrigues (born 17 September 1998), known as Kikas, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Challenger Pro League club Eupen.
Club career
Beginnings and B-SAD
Kikas was born in Castelo Branco,[2] and finished his youth career with Vitória de Guimarães up north.[3] He made his senior debut with local club Benfica e Castelo Branco in 2017, scoring 17 goals in his only season as the team finished in third position in the third division, the first outside the promotion play-offs zone. He added four in the Taça de Portugal,[4] and in January 2018 signed a three-year contract with Belenenses to be made effective on 1 July.[5]
Kikas' first match in the Primeira Liga took place on 27 August 2018, when he came on as a late substitute in the 1–1 away draw against Moreirense.[6] Starting on 22 February of the following year, he netted four times in three consecutive league matches, including in a fixture at Benfica that ended 2–2.[7][8]
Loans and journeyman
On 7 May 2019, Kikas agreed to an extension until 2023 with a buyout clause of €15 million.[9] Late into the January 2020 transfer window, he was loaned to LigaPro side Vilafranquense until 30 June.[10]
Kikas continued to be loaned by the renamed B-SAD in the subsequent seasons, to Doxa Katokopias of the Cypriot First Division,[11] Mafra in the Portuguese second tier and União de Leiria in the third.[12]
Estrela Amadora
In January 2023, still owned by B-SAD, Kikas moved to Estrela da Amadora.[13] Having helped them to return to the top flight after a lengthy absence, that summer he joined them on a free transfer and a two-year deal.[14]
Kikas scored the only goal of a 1–0 win over Gil Vicente on the final matchday of 2023–24, to secure Estrela's survival in the main tier.[15] He totalled eight for the campaign.[16]
In 2024–25 and the first half of the following season, Kikas was again his team's top scorer at six goals.[17]
Eupen
On 21 January 2026, Kikas joined Belgian Challenger Pro League club Eupen on a contract until June 2028.[18][19]
References
- ^ a b c "Kikas" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Kikas: "Nunca fui muito de ir a festas. Preferia ficar em casa a descansar para o jogo do dia seguinte" – II Parte" [Kikas: "I was never much of a party animal. I'd rather stay at home and rest for the following day's match" – II Part] (in Portuguese). Castelo Branco Football Association. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Jorge, Artur (2 February 2017). "Futebol: Kikas inscrito na liga profissional" [Football: Kikas registered in the professional league] (in Portuguese). Reconquista. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Jorge, Artur (26 April 2018). "Futebol: Menino de 19 anos é o rei dos marcadores" [Football: 19-year-old kid is the scorers' king] (in Portuguese). Reconquista. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Belenenses contrata avançado Kikas ao Benfica de Castelo Branco" [Belenenses sign forward Kikas from Benfica de Castelo Branco]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Belenenses volta a deixar escapar pontos nos descontos" [Belenenses let points slip away in injury time again]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 27 August 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Golos marcados por Kikas são sinónimo de vitórias" [Goals scored by Kikas equal wins]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 March 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Salvador, Rui (11 March 2019). "Erros do Benfica 'oferecem' empate e custam liderança isolada da I Liga" [Benfica blunders 'offer' draw and cost uncontested I League leadership]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Gouveia Pereira, Miguel (7 May 2019). "Kikas renova com o Belenenses e fixa cláusula de rescisão nos 15 milhões" [Kikas renews with Belenenses and sets release clause at 15 million]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Belenenses SAD empresta Kikas ao Vilafranquense" [Belenenses SAD loan Kikas to Vilafranquense] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ Morais, Pedro (21 August 2020). "Kikas cedido pelo Belenenses SAD ao Doxa, do Chipre" [Kikas loaned by Belenenses SAD to Doxa, from Cyprus]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Kikas cedido à U. Leiria por empréstimo" [Kikas moves to U. Leiria on loan]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 January 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Guerra, Francisco (31 January 2023). "Kikas rende Paulinho no ataque" [Kikas for Paulinho up front]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "E. Amadora Kikas renovou contrato" [E. Amadora Kikas renewed contract]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Estrela da Amadora cumpre na Reboleira, vence Gil Vicente e vai continuar entre os grandes" [Estrela da Amadora do their job at the Reboleira, beat Gil Vicente and will remain among big boys] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Kikas… mais uma vez!" [Kikas… once again!] (in Portuguese). Reconquista. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ Mendes, Nuno (4 January 2026). "Kikas na melhor fase da temporada" [Kikas in the best moment of the season]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "KAS Eupen signs Portuguese striker João Diogo Alves Rodrigues". K.A.S. Eupen. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "La KAS Eupen recrute l'attaquant portugais Kikas" [KAS Eupen sign Portuguese forward Kikas] (in French). Vedia. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.