Roger Fernandes

Roger Fernandes (born 21 November 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Born in Guinea-Bissau, he is a youth international for Portugal.

Early and personal life Born in Guinea-Bissau on 21 November 2005, Fernandes began playing football in the streets of Bafatá, where he quickly stood out from the rest of the kids. His talent was first spotted by his uncle Eusébio Fernandes, who was both the father and the football agent of three of his cousins, Ricardo Fernandes, Joelson Fernandes, and Saná Fernandes, who all became professional footballers. In the absence of Galeno, Fernandes started in the season's first training match against Vizela, impressing Carvalhal with his positioning and understanding of Braga's playing style, and indeed, he had spent the previous days watching videos of Galeno. At 15 years, 8 months and 12 days, Fernandes became the youngest ever player in the history of the Portuguese Super Cup. He also became the second-youngest player in the club's history, being only 7 days older than Germano Campos, who made his debut in the Campeonato de Portugal in 1922, nearly a century before. Two weeks later, on 14 August, he made his league debut for Braga, again against Sporting, becoming, at the age of 15 years and 266 days, the youngest player in the history of Primeira Liga, beating the record that had been set by Dário Essugo just five months earlier, at the age of 16 years and 6 days.

Two months later, on 17 October 2021, Fernandes scored his first goal for Braga in the third round of the 2021–22 Taça de Portugal against Moitense, becoming, at the age of 15, the club's youngest-ever goalscorer, surpassing Pedro Neto's record, aged 17, set in 2017. Two months later, on 30 December, he scored his first league goals for Braga in a 6–0 thrashing of Arouca, becoming, at the age of 16 years and 39 days, the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Primeira Liga, surpassing Gonçalo Brandão's record, aged 17 years and 9 days, set in 2003. He also became the youngest player to score a brace in Primeira Liga, breaking the previous record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2002, aged 17. Two months later, on 17 February 2022, he came on as a late substitute in the first leg of the round of 32 of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League against Sheriff Tiraspol, becoming, at the age of 16 years and 88 days, the youngest-ever player in the competition's history, breaking the previous record set by Willem Geubbels in 2017.

2022–present Fernandes was a member of the Braga team that participated in the 2023–24 UEFA Youth League. In February 2025, he was named the Best Young Player of February in the Primeira Liga with 14.53% of the votes.

Al-Ittihad On 5 September 2025, Fernandes joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad on a five-year deal.

International career In September 2022, Fernandes was called up to the Guinea-Bissau national team for a set of friendlies.

In April 2025, the 19-year-old Fernandes completed the naturalization process and became thus eligible to play for Portugal. In his debut against France, which ended in a goalless draw, he had one of his shots cleared off the line by Castello Lukeba.

Career statistics

Honours Braga Taça da Liga: 2023–24