Cláudio Braga

Cláudio Rafael Soares Braga (born 28 October 1999) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian.

Career Early career Born in Mafamude in Vila Nova de Gaia, Braga played for several local clubs at youth level, later telling A Bola that he was not considered a significant prospect at any of them.

Braga became a fan favourite at Heart of Midlothian with 14 goals and three assists in 33 games by April 2026, and was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for the 2025–26 season having played a key role in Hearts' title challenge. Braga also won the 2025–26 PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year for his performances with the club, becoming the first Portuguese player to win the award.

Style of play Braga plays as a forward and is right-footed. Prior to signing for the club in July 2025, Heart of Midlothian newspaper Hearts Standard described him as a "versatile and multi-faceted forward who can play off the left or through the middle".

Career statistics

Honours

Individual PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year: 2025–26 SFWA Footballer of the Year: 2025–26 William Hill Premiership Player of the Year: 2025–26 Heart of Midlothian Players' Player of the Year: 2025–26