Kauã Elias

Kauã Elias Nogueira (born 28 March 2006) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk.

Early life Elias was raised by his grandfather, José Elias, a former goalkeeper who played amateur football in the Uberlândia municipality, and his grandmother, Lucilene De Faria. His parents also had an important part of Kauã's upbringing but Kauã spent most part of his childhood with the paternal side of the family.

Club career Early career Having played football on the fields of Uberlândia with his grandfather, Elias started his career with futsal school Praia Clube. His performances eventually led to him being noticed by a scout from professional side Fluminense in mid-2016.

He signed his first professional contract with the club in June 2021, keeping him with the club until 2027, with a release clause to foreign clubs worth an estimated .

Shakhtar Donetsk On 8 February 2025, Elias signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. Later that year, on 14 May, he scored his first goal for the club against Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Cup final, which ended in victory following a penalty shoot-out. On 3 August 2026, he scored his first hat-trick in a 5–1 victory over Kudrivka.

International career Elias was first called up to the Brazil under-17 team in January 2023. He was then called up again for the 2023 South American U-17 Championship, and in the first game against Ecuador, he scored two goals, though his side went on to draw the game 2–2.

Career statistics

Honours Fluminense Copa Libertadores: 2023

Shakhtar Donetsk Ukrainian Premier League: 2025–26 Ukrainian Cup: 2024–25