Leonardo (footballer, born 1997)

Leonardo Nascimento Lopes de Souza (born 28 May 1997), known as Leonardo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Chinese Super League club Zhejiang on loan from Shandong Taishan.

Career
Leonardo grew in the Santos youth ranks and then he was loaned to the B-team, where he scored three goals in 16 games. Gainare Tottori wanted to scout him, so GM Masayuki Okano and returning Fernandinho went to Brazil to see with their own eyes the striker and another player, Vitor Gabriel. In January 2018, the Tottori-based club signed both class '97 for their incoming 2018 season.

After a top-scorer season with Albirex Niigata, scoring 28 goals in the 2019 J2 League, the Brazilian striker signed for Urawa Red Diamonds in the J1 League.

Urawa Red Diamonds
Leonardo made his debut for Urawa in the club's match against Vegalta Sendai in the 2020 J.League Cup group stage on 16 February 2020. He scored twice in the first-half as Urawa won 5–2. He made his league debut five days later and scored the club's second goal of a 3–2 away victory at Shonan Bellmare.

Shandong Taishan
On 22 February 2021, Leonardo joined Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan.

On 30 July 2021, Leonardo joined fellow Chinese Super League club Hebei F.C. on loan.

On 24 February 2022, Leonardo joined K League 1 club Ulsan Hyundai on loan.

Loan to Changchun Yatai
On 7 April 2023, Leonardo joined fellow Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai on loan. On 30 April 2023, Leonardo scored his first goal for Yatai in a 1-1 home draw against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. On 19 May 2023, Leonardo scored a hat trick in a 4-2 away win against Cangzhou Mighty Lions. On 30 June 2023, Yatai announced that his loan was terminated prematurely. He scored 10 goals from 12 league appearances for the club, making him top goalscorer of the 2023 Chinese Super League at the time of his departure.

Loans to Zhejiang
On 1 July 2023, Leonardo joined fellow Chinese Super League club Zhejiang on loan. On 12 July 2023, Leonardo scored his first 2 goals for Zhejiang in a 2-2 away draw at his former club Changchun Yatai.

On 7 February 2024, he was re-loaned to Zhejiang until the end of the 2024 season.

Club statistics
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Honours
Ulsan Hyundai
 * K League 1: 2022

Individual
 * J2 League top scorer: 2019 (28 goals)
 * J3 League top scorer: 2018 (24 goals)