Rodrigo Escoval

Personal information
Full name	João Rodrigo Pereira Escoval
Date of birth	8 May 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Lisbon, Portugal
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Akron Tolyatti
Number	26
Youth career
2006–2007	Sacavenense
2007–2016	Benfica
2014–2015	→ Casa Pia (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team
2015–2017	Benfica B
2017–2018	Istra 1961
2018–2022	Rijeka
2022	Anorthosis
2022–2023	Volos
2023–2024	Vizela
2024–	Akron Tolyatti
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 September 2025
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João Rodrigo Pereira Escoval (born 8 May 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Russian Premier League club Akron Tolyatti.

Club career

Escoval was born in Lisbon. He joined S.L. Benfica's youth system at the age of 10, signing from SG Sacavenense also in the region.^[2]

On 24 August 2016, Escoval made his professional debut for Benfica's B team, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away win against F.C. Vizela in the LigaPro.^[3] He contributed a further nine starts until the end of the season, helping to a final fourth position.^[4]

On 18 August 2017, the 20-year-old Escoval and teammate Filipe Ferreira were sold to NK Istra 1961 from the Croatian Football League, as Mato Miloš moved in the opposite direction.^[5] On 10 January 2018, he signed a 1+1⁄2-year contract with HNK Rijeka of the same country and league, with a three-year extension option.^[6] He scored his first top-flight goal while in service of the latter club, opening the 2–0 away victory over NK Varaždin on 28 September 2019.^[7]

Escoval joined Cypriot First Division side Anorthosis Famagusta FC on 31 January 2022 on a two-and-a-half-year deal,^[8] but switched to the Super League Greece with Volos F.C. shortly after.^[9] He returned to Portugal in summer 2023, agreeing to a two-year contract at Vizela.^[10]^[11] He made his Primeira Liga debut on 27 August by starting the 2–0 loss at Vitória de Guimarães^[12] and, in December, renewed his link until 2026.^[13]

On 29 June 2024, Escoval signed for Russian Premier League newcomers FC Akron Tolyatti.^[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 October 2025^[15]^[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		Europe		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Benfica B	2015–16	LigaPro	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2016–17	LigaPro	16	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
	Total		16	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
Istra 1961	2017–18	Prva HNL	12	0	3	0	0	0	15	0
Rijeka	2017–18	Prva HNL	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	2018–19		23	0	3	0	0	0	26	0
	2019–20		27	1	4	0	0	0	31	1
	2020–21		19	0	1	0	6	1	26	1
	2021–22		8	0	3	0	5	0	16	0
	Total		84	1	11	0	11	1	106	2
Anorthosis	2021–22	Cypriot First Division	2	0	3	0	0	0	5	0
Volos	2022–23	Super League Greece	29	0	2	0	0	0	31	0
Vizela	2023–24	Primeira Liga	19	0	4	0	0	0	23	0
Akron Tolyatti	2024–25	Russian Premier League	28	2	2	0	–		30	2
	2025–26	Russian Premier League	6	0	4	0	–		10	0
	Total		34	2	6	0	0	0	40	2
Career total			196	3	29	0	11	1	236	4

Honours

Rijeka

Croatian Football Cup: 2018–19, 2019–20^[15]

Individual

Russian Premier League Goal of the Month: April 2025 (on 27 April 2025 against Khimki).^[17]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "João Escoval" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ "Caso raro. Benfica B jogou com 18 jogadores portugueses, 17 deles da formação" [Rare event. Benfica B played with 18 Portuguese players, 17 being from the youth system] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
^ "Vizela-Benfica B, 1–2: José Gomes dá o triunfo às águias" [Vizela-Benfica B, 1–2: José Gomes gives eagles win]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
^ "Hélder Cristóvão: "O que foi feito o ano passado de nada serve neste"" [Hélder Cristóvão: "What was done last year does not matter one bit this one"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
^ "Benfica inclui dois "bês" no negócio de Mato Milos" [Benfica include two "Bs" in Mato Milos deal] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
^ "Joao Escoval novi igrač Rijeke: 'Rijeka je veliki klub'" [João Escoval new player of Rijeka: 'Rijeka is a big club'] (in Croatian). HNK Rijeka. 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
^ Frančišković, Denis (30 October 2019). "TIBOR HALILOVIĆ: Napadačka igra, presing i što raniji gol recept za prolaz u četvrtfinale Kupa" [TIBOR HALILOVIĆ: Attacking play, pressing and recipe for the earliest goal possible to reach the Cup quarter-finals]. Novi list (in Croatian). Retrieved 6 April 2022.
^ "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Rodrigo Escoval" [Start of cooperation with Rodrigo Escoval] (in Greek). Anorthosis Famagusta. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
^ Tsiptsios, Konstantinos (9 July 2022). "Επίσημα στον Βόλο ο Εσκοβάλ!" [Escoval officially to Volos!] (in Greek). Sports 365. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
^ Aleixo, Mário (20 July 2023). "Vizela reforça-se com João Escoval" [Vizela strengthen with João Escoval] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
^ "Rodrigo Escoval chega para "dar tudo"" [Rodrigo Escoval arrives to "give everything"] (in Portuguese). F.C. Vizela. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^ Ferreira, Bruno José (27 August 2023). "V. Guimarães-Vizela, 2–0 (crónica)" [V. Guimarães-Vizela, 2–0 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
^ "Rodrigo Escoval renova até 2026" [Rodrigo Escoval renews until 2026] (in Portuguese). F.C. Vizela. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^ ""Акрон" заключил контракт с Родриго Эсковалем" [Akron signed a contract with Rodrigo Escoval] (in Russian). FC Akron Tolyatti. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
^ ^a ^b Rodrigo Escoval at Soccerway
^ "João Escoval" (in Croatian). Hrnogomet. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
^ "Родриго Эсковаль – автор Winline гола апреля!" [Rodrigo Escoval – author of Winline's goal of April!] (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.

External links

Rodrigo Escoval at ForaDeJogo (archived)

[Bio-1] "João Escoval" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 24 September 2020.

[2] "Caso raro. Benfica B jogou com 18 jogadores portugueses, 17 deles da formação" [Rare event. Benfica B played with 18 Portuguese players, 17 being from the youth system] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.

[3] "Vizela-Benfica B, 1–2: José Gomes dá o triunfo às águias" [Vizela-Benfica B, 1–2: José Gomes gives eagles win]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.

[4] "Hélder Cristóvão: "O que foi feito o ano passado de nada serve neste"" [Hélder Cristóvão: "What was done last year does not matter one bit this one"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2021.

[5] "Benfica inclui dois "bês" no negócio de Mato Milos" [Benfica include two "Bs" in Mato Milos deal] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.

[6] "Joao Escoval novi igrač Rijeke: 'Rijeka je veliki klub'" [João Escoval new player of Rijeka: 'Rijeka is a big club'] (in Croatian). HNK Rijeka. 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2018.

[7] Frančišković, Denis (30 October 2019). "TIBOR HALILOVIĆ: Napadačka igra, presing i što raniji gol recept za prolaz u četvrtfinale Kupa" [TIBOR HALILOVIĆ: Attacking play, pressing and recipe for the earliest goal possible to reach the Cup quarter-finals]. Novi list (in Croatian). Retrieved 6 April 2022.

[8] "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Rodrigo Escoval" [Start of cooperation with Rodrigo Escoval] (in Greek). Anorthosis Famagusta. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

[9] Tsiptsios, Konstantinos (9 July 2022). "Επίσημα στον Βόλο ο Εσκοβάλ!" [Escoval officially to Volos!] (in Greek). Sports 365. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[10] Aleixo, Mário (20 July 2023). "Vizela reforça-se com João Escoval" [Vizela strengthen with João Escoval] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[11] "Rodrigo Escoval chega para "dar tudo"" [Rodrigo Escoval arrives to "give everything"] (in Portuguese). F.C. Vizela. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.

[12] Ferreira, Bruno José (27 August 2023). "V. Guimarães-Vizela, 2–0 (crónica)" [V. Guimarães-Vizela, 2–0 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[13] "Rodrigo Escoval renova até 2026" [Rodrigo Escoval renews until 2026] (in Portuguese). F.C. Vizela. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.

[14] ""Акрон" заключил контракт с Родриго Эсковалем" [Akron signed a contract with Rodrigo Escoval] (in Russian). FC Akron Tolyatti. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.

[SW-15] Rodrigo Escoval at Soccerway

[16] "João Escoval" (in Croatian). Hrnogomet. Retrieved 23 May 2019.

[17] "Родриго Эсковаль – автор Winline гола апреля!" [Rodrigo Escoval – author of Winline's goal of April!] (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.

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Personal information

Full name	João Rodrigo Pereira Escoval^[1]
Date of birth	(1997-05-08) 8 May 1997 (age 28)^[1]
Place of birth	Lisbon, Portugal^[1]
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)^[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Akron Tolyatti
Number	26
Youth career
2006–2007	Sacavenense
2007–2016	Benfica
2014–2015	→ Casa Pia (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Benfica B	16	(0)
2017–2018	Istra 1961	12	(0)
2018–2022	Rijeka	84	(1)
2022	Anorthosis	2	(0)
2022–2023	Volos	29	(0)
2023–2024	Vizela	19	(0)
2024–	Akron Tolyatti	34	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 September 2025