Vinicius Lira

Vinicius Lira
Lira in 2025
Personal information
Full name Vinicius Rodrigues Lira
Date of birth (2007-10-12) 12 October 2007
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Left-back
Team information
Current team
Santos
Number 3
Youth career
Palmeiras
2017–2026 Santos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Santos 14 (0)
International career
2024 Brazil U17 3 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:59, 17 March 2026 (UTC)

Vinicius Rodrigues Lira (born 12 October 2007), known as Vinicius Lira, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a left-back for Santos.

Club career

Born in São Paulo, Lira began his career with Palmeiras before moving to Santos in 2017.[1] On 1 May 2024, he signed his first professional contract with the latter club, after agreeing to a three-year deal.[2]

Lira made his first team debut on 29 January 2025, coming on as a half-time substitute for fellow youth graduate Souza in a 3–1 Campeonato Paulista away loss to São Bernardo.[3] He played two further matches before returning to the under-20s, and only became a permanent first team member in January of the following year, after Souza left for Tottenham Hotspur.[4]

In March 2026, Lira suffered a knee injury during a match against Corinthians, being sidelined for the remainder of the season.[5]

International career

In June 2024, Lira was called up to the Brazil national under-17 team.[6] He played for the nation in the Cascais Luso Cup, featuring in all three matches of the competition.

On 13 March 2026, Lira and other two Santos teammates were called up to the under-20 team,[7] but later had to withdraw due to an injury.

Career statistics

As of 17 March 2026.[8]
Club Season League State League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Santos 2025 Série A 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0
2026 5 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Career total 5 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0

Honours

Santos U17

  • Campeonato Paulista Sub-17: 2024

Santos U20

  • Campeonato Paulista Sub-20: 2025

Brazil U17

  • Cascais Luso Cup: 2024

References

  1. ^ "Promessa do Santos acerta contrato com a agência Bertolucci Sports" [Santos prospect signs contract with agency Bertolucci Sports] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Santos acerta a renovação de lateral-esquerdo da categoria Sub-20" [Santos agree the renewal of left-back of the under-20 category] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Santos sofre virada do São Bernardo fora de casa e soma quatro jogos sem vitória" [Santos suffer comeback from São Bernardo away from home and reach four winless matches] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  4. ^ "Conheça o lateral de 18 anos que está pedindo passagem no Santos" [Know the 18-year-old full-back who is making a move at Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Vinicius Lira rompe o ligamento do joelho esquerdo e não deve mais defender o Santos na temporada" [Vinicius Lira tears the ligament of his left knee and might not play for Santos in the season] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 16 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Alencar, Lira e Luca Meirelles são convocados pela Seleção Sub-17 para torneio em Portugal" [Alencar, Lira and Luca Meirelles are called up by the national under-17 team for a tournament in Portugal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  7. ^ "João Pedro, Ananias e Vini Lira são convocados pela Seleção Brasileira Sub-20" [João Pedro, Ananias and Vini Lira are called up to the Brazil national under-20 team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  8. ^ Vinicius Lira at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 January 2025.