Alexandre Guedes

Alexandre Xavier Pereira Guedes (born 11 February 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a striker for Angolan club Atlético Petróleos de Luanda.

Sporting CP
Born in Arcozelo, Vila Nova de Gaia, Guedes joined Sporting CP's youth system in 2005, aged 11, and went on to score 53 goals for its various teams. On 16 December 2012, still a junior, he made his senior debut with the B side, coming on as a substitute for Bruma in the last minute of a 2–1 away win against C.D. Tondela in the Segunda Liga.

On 29 January 2014, Guedes was sold to Spanish club CF Reus Deportiu until June, alongside teammate Tobias Figueiredo (who was loaned). He failed to find the net during his one-and-a-half-year stint in the Segunda División B with the Catalans.

Aves
In August 2015, Guedes agreed to a two-year deal at C.D. Aves in his country's second tier. He scored 13 goals in each of his first two seasons in Aves, helping to Primeira Liga promotion at the end of 2016–17 and subsequently renewing his contract.

Guedes made his debut in the top flight on 6 August 2017, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–2 home loss to former club Sporting. On 5 May 2018, he was one of the scorers as the team won 3–0 at Moreirense F.C. in the penultimate round of games to ensure another year at the top tier. Fifteen days later, he netted twice to help to a 2–1 defeat of Sporting in the final of the Taça de Portugal.

Vitória Guimarães
Guedes left for Vitória S.C. on 4 July 2018 for a €500.000 fee on a five-year contract, with Aves maintaining 50% of his economic rights. He scored his first goals on 8 October, a brace in a 3–1 away victory over C.S. Marítimo. His team finished the campaign in fifth, and qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

In January 2020, Guedes was loaned to Vegalta Sendai of the Japanese J1 League.

Famalicão
Guedes returned to the Portuguese top division on 8 January 2021, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with F.C. Famalicão. He failed to find the net during his spell, in eight starts.

Raków Częstochowa
On 23 July 2021, Guedes joined Polish Ekstraklasa club Raków Częstochowa on a three-year contract with an option to extend for a further two seasons. He made 11 appearances before leaving by mutual consent on 14 December.

Later career
Guedes returned to Japan in March 2022, agreeing to a deal at J2 League's Albirex Niigata. He went back to Portugal in the 2023 January transfer window, with F.C. Paços de Ferreira who were last in the top flight. He scored his only goal on 21 May in the 3–1 home defeat of Rio Ave FC, not being able to prevent relegation as second-bottom.

On 27 July 2023, Guedes signed for Atlético Petróleos de Luanda, reigning champions of the Angolan Girabola.

International career
While in representation of the Portugal under-19 side, Guedes was one of three top scorers at the 2013 UEFA European Championship in Lithuania with his tally of three goals. He recorded two in a 4–1 group win over the Netherlands and one more in a 2–2 draw with Serbia in the semi-finals, though his attempt was saved by Predrag Rajković as the Serbs won on penalties.

Career statistics


Honours
Aves
 * Taça de Portugal: 2017–18

Raków Częstochowa
 * Polish Cup: 2021–22

Albirex Niigata
 * J2 League: 2022

Individual
 * UEFA European Under-19 Championship top scorer: 2013 (shared with Gratas Sirgėdas and Anass Achahbar)