Sterling Vasconcellos
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sterling Maikeli Mociu Vasconcellos | ||
| Date of birth | 19 April 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Fiji | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bula FC | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lautoka | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Lautoka | 23 | (0) |
| 2025 | Eastern Suburbs | 16 | (0) |
| 2026– | Bula FC | 9 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022–2024 | Fiji U20 | 14 | (2) |
| 2023 | Fiji U23 | 4 | (0) |
| 2023– | Fiji | 24 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:17, 11 March 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:51, 11 February 2026 (UTC) | |||
Sterling Maikeli Mociu Vasconcellos (born 19 April 2005) is a Fijian footballer who plays as a defender for OFC Professional League Bula FC and the Fiji national team.
Club career
Lautoka
Vasconcellos started his career with Fijian side Lautoka where he represented the youth teams from U10 to U19 level.[1] He won the Fiji Premier League in 2023 and the Fiji FA Cup Tournament in 2023 and 2024 with Lautoka.[2]
He was awarded the 2024 Digicel Pacific FACT Best Player of the Tournament. He was also awarded the 2024 Digicel Pacific FACT Golden Boot. He received interest from New Zealand clubs.
Eastern Suburbs
On 5 February 2025, Eastern Suburbs announced Vasconcellos had signed alongside fellow Fijian Thomas Dunn, for the 2025 season.[3][4]
Bula FC
On 8 December 2025, Vasconcellos signed for OFC Professional League club Bula FC on a one-year deal valid for the 2026 season; he signed again alongside Thomas Dunn.[5][1]
International career
Youth
He represented Fiji U20 at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and he scored two goals for Fiji U20 against Vanuatu U20 during the 6–1 victory at the 2019 OFC U-19 Men's Championship. He also represented Fiji U23 during the 2023 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[6]
Senior
He made his senior debut for Fiji on 18 November 2023 during the 10–0 victory against Northern Mariana Islands during the 2023 Pacific Games,[7] and he represented Fiji during the 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup.[8]
He scored his first goal for Fiji on 15 November 2025 during the 1–0 victory against Papua New Guinea Red at the 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup.[9]
Personal life
Vasconcellos was born on 19 April 2005 in Fiji and he grew up in Lautoka.[10] His family supported him in his football career. He is of American descent and he obtained an American passport; his father is a native of Hawaii, United States while his mother is a native of Nadi, Fiji.
He attended Dreketi Sangam School in Fiji, where he started playing football. After that, he attended Tilak High School in Fiji.[11]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 3 March 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Other | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lautoka | 2022 | Fiji Premier League | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 |
| 2023 | Fiji Premier League | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | Fiji Premier League | 13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||
| Eastern Suburbs | 2025 | New Zealand National League | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Bula FC | 2026 | OFC Professional League | 9 | 0 | — | — | ||
| Career total | 48 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes Fiji FA Cup Tournament, Chatham Cup
- ^ Three appearances in the Battle of the Giants
International
- As of match played 20 November 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiji | 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 24 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Fiji's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vasconcellos goal.[12]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 15 November 2025 | Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | 22 | Papua New Guinea Red | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup – Men's tournament | [9] |
Honours
Lautoka
- Fiji Premier League: 2023
- Fiji FA Cup Tournament: 2023, 2024
- Battle of the Giants (Fiji): 2024
- Champion versus Champion Series: 2024
Fiji U23
- OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: runner-up 2023[6]
Fiji
- Pacific Games: third place 2023
References
- ^ a b Laddpeter, Meli (8 December 2025). "Vasconcellos joins Bula FC". FBC News. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ "Sterling Vasconcellos: Fiji's defensive prime talent shines in the OFC Nations Cup". oceaniafootballcenter.org.
- ^ "Fijian duo become Lilywhites". Eastern Suburbs AFC. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Eastern Suburbs sign Fiji international duo for Northern League season". friendsoffootballnz.com. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Sterling Vasconcellos". OFC Professional League. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ a b "New Zealand 9:0 Fiji". Oceania Football Confederation. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ Pal, Aaryan (19 November 2023). "The Digicel Bula Boys kicked off their Pacific Games 2023 campaign on a high with a 10-0 thrashing of Northern Mariana's Island last night". Fiji Village. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ "Rwanda vs. Zanzibar 2003-12-02". National Football Teams.
- ^ a b "Papua New Guinea U20 0-1 Fiji". Soccerway.
- ^ "Vasconcellos ready". fijitimes.com.fj.
- ^ "Young Vasconcellous continues to make waves". fbcnews.com.fj.
- ^ a b c "Sterling Vasconcellos". National Football Teams.
- ^ "Sterling VASCONCELLOS". Fiji Football. Retrieved 28 May 2025.