{{short description|Angolan footballer}} {{Portuguese name|Muati|Modesto}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Rui Modesto | image = Rui Modesto (AIK, 2023, cropped).jpg | caption = Modesto with AIK in 2023 | full_name = Rui Manuel Muati Modesto | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|10|07|df=y}} | birth_place = Vendas Novas, Portugal | height = 1.83 m | position = Winger, wing-back, full back | currentclub = Palermo<br>(on loan from Udinese) | clubnumber = 18 | youthyears1 = 2007–2012 | youthclubs1 = Afeiteira | youthyears2 = 2012–2018 | youthclubs2 = Estrela V.N. | youthyears3 = 2015–2016 | youthclubs3 = → Juventude Évora (youth loan) | youthyears4 = 2016–2017 | youthclubs4 = → Lusitano Évora (youth loan) | youthyears5 = 2018–2020 | youthclubs5 = Vitória Setubal | years1 = 2017–2018 | clubs1 = Estrela V.N. | caps1 = 28 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2020 | clubs2 = Honka II | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2020–2022 | clubs3 = Honka | caps3 = 50 | goals3 = 9 | years4 = 2023–2024 | clubs4 = AIK | caps4 = 49 | goals4 = 12 | years5 = 2024– | clubs5 = Udinese | caps5 = 25 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2026– | clubs6 = → Palermo (loan) | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2023– | nationalteam1 = Angola | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 12 May 2026 | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}} {{MedalCountry|{{fb|ANG}}}} {{MedalCompetition|COSAFA Cup}} {{Medal|W|2024 South Africa|}} }} '''Rui Manuel Muati Modesto''' (born 7 October 1999) is a footballer who plays as a winger for Italian {{Italian football updater|Palermo}} club Palermo on loan from Udinese.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modesto è bianconero < Squadra < News < Udinese |url=https://www.udinese.it/news/squadra/modesto-e-bianconero |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.udinese.it}}</ref> Born in Portugal, he represents the Angola national team. Initially a defender in his native Portugal, Modesto moved to a more attacking role after moving to Finland.
==Early career== Modesto was born in Vendas Novas and developed his football skills through various youth clubs in Afeiteira, Estrela Vendas Novas, Juventude Évora and Lusitano Évora.<ref>{{ForaDeJogo|199910070005}}</ref>
Modesto made his senior debut with Estrela Vendas Novas first team in the 2017–18 season, playing in Portuguese third tier Campeonato de Portugal.
Between 2018 and 2020, he played with Vitória Setubal U23 in Liga Revelação youth league.
==Club career== ===Honka=== On 17 September 2020, Modesto transferred to Honka in Finnish top-tier Veikkausliiga.<ref>{{cite news |title=Honka vahvistuu kahdella uudella pelaajalla|publisher=esporthonka.com |url=https://esporthonka.com/honka-vahvistuu-kahdella-uudella-pelaajalla/|access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref> Modesto represented Honka in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers in four games. In the 2022 season, he scored 7 goals and provided 12 assists in the league, and was awarded for the most assists of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Veikkausliigakauden syöttöpörssin voittaja siirtyy Hongasta Ruotsiin|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat |url=https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000009232284.html|access-date=9 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Captain's Ball 2022 - palkitut osa 1|publisher=Finnish FA |url=https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/captain-s-ball-2022-palkitut-osa-1/|access-date=9 October 2023}}</ref>
===AIK=== After a two-and-a-half season stint in Finland, Modesto was acquired by Allsvenskan club AIK in preparation for the 2023 season. He signed a three-year contract with the club, for a transfer fee of €500,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rui Modesto klar för AIK Fotboll|publisher=aikfotboll.se|url=https://www.aikfotboll.se/nyheter/rui-modesto-klar-for-aik-fotboll-2022-11-28|access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rui Modesto: An under-the-radar gem at wing back|publisher=totalfootballanalysis.com|url=https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/rui-modesto-202324-scout-report-tactics-tactical-analysis|access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/veikkausliigan-porssiykkonen-siirtyy-ruotsin-paasarjan-suurseuraan/8580868 Veikkausliigan pörssiykkönen siirtyy Ruotsin pääsarjan suurseuraan], MTV Oy, 28 November 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/onGnaV/aik-s-succespelare-rui-modesto-om-tuffa-tiden-var-inte-redo ”Hände väldigt snabbt och jag var inte redo”], Aftonbladet, 3 September 2023</ref><ref>[https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-10049841 Sällsynt mycket pengar – men krävde VPS verkligen tillräckligt för målkungen Michael? Sportchefen om spelet då stjärnan såldes: ”Vi är inte HJK”], Svenska Yle, 25 January 2024</ref>
After his first season with AIK, Modesto was named The Player of the Season by the fans of the club.<ref>[https://www.svenskafans.com/fotboll/aik/sasongsbetyg-malvakter-och-forsvarare--663889 Säsongsbetyg: Målvakter och försvarare], svenskafans.com, 25 November 2023</ref> He finished the season scoring 7 goals in 34 matches, in all competitions combined.
=== Udinese === On 30 August 2024, AIK reached an agreement with Italian Serie A club Udinese for the immediate transfer of Modesto for €1.5 million fee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rui Modesto lämnar AIK Fotboll |url=https://www.aikfotboll.se/nyheter/rui-modesto-lamnar-aik-fotboll-2024-08-30 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=AIK Fotboll |language=sv}}</ref><ref>[https://www.tuttoudinese.it/calciomercato/blitz-udinese-domani-prevista-la-chiusura-per-rui-modesto-164011 Blitz Udinese, domani prevista la chiusura per Rui Modesto], tuttoudinese.com, 30 August 2024</ref> Modesto signed a four-year contract with Udinese.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-30 |title=Modesto signs for Udinese |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/modesto-signs-for-udinese-39968259 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=OneFootball |language=en}}</ref>
====Loan to Palermo==== On 2 February 2026, Modesto was loaned by Palermo in Serie B, with a conditional obligation to buy.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Palermo FC|url=https://www.palermofc.com/en/news/rui-modesto-is-rosanero|title=Rui Modesto is rosanero|date=2 February 2026|access-date=2 February 2026}}</ref>
==International career== In June 2023, Modesto received his first call-up to Angola national team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Central African Republic, Madagascar and Ghana. However, he remained an unused substitute during these matches.
Modesto made his debut for the Angola national team on 12 September 2023, in a 4–0 friendly loss against Iran.<ref name=sw>{{Soccerway|rui-modesto/490581|accessdate=22 July 2023}}</ref>
On 3 December 2025, Modesto was called up to the Angola squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cafonline.com/afcon2025/news/angola-name-final-28-man-squad-for-totalenergies-caf-afcon-2025-as-beaumelle-targets-historic-breakthrough/|title=Angola name final 28-man squad for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 as Beaumelle targets historic breakthrough|publisher=Confederation of African Football|date=3 December 2025|access-date=12 December 2025}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 21 March 2026}}<ref name=sw/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Suomen Cup, Svenska Cupen and Coppa Italia}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |Estrela V.N. |2017–18 |Campeonato de Portugal |28||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||0 |- |Honka Akatemia |2020 |Kakkonen |3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- | rowspan="4" |Honka |2020 |Veikkausliiga |3||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—|||3||0 |- |2021 |Veikkausliiga |21||2||6||1||4{{efn|Includes UEFA Europa Conference League|name=b}}||0||colspan="2"|—|||31||3 |- |2022 |Veikkausliiga |26||7||1||0||colspan="2"|—|||4{{efn|Includes Finnish League Cup|name=c}}||1||31||8 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !50!!9!!7!!1!!4!!0!!4!!1!!65!!11 |- |rowspan="3"|AIK |2023 |Allsvenskan |29||6||5||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||7 |- |2024 |Allsvenskan |20||6||5||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||9 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !49!!12!!10!!4!!0!!0!!0!!0!!59!!16 |- |rowspan="3"|Udinese |2024–25 |Serie A |20||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||0 |- |2025–26 |Serie A |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !23!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!25!!0 |- |Palermo (loan) |2025–26 |Serie B |3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !156!!21!!18!!5!!4!!0!!4!!1!!182!!28 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|26 November 2023}}
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=2|Angola |2023||2||0 |- |2024||2||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||4||0 |}
==Honours== '''FC Honka''' *Finnish League Cup: 2022 '''Individual''' *Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: July 2022<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2022 |title=Rui Modesto Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja |url=https://www.jpy.fi/fi/uutiset/rui-modesto-veikkausliigan-kuukauden-pelaaja |access-date=19 September 2023 |website=jpy.fi |language=fi}}</ref> *Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2022<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 October 2022 |title=Perinteinen Koplajoukkue nimetty - jalkapallotoimittajien valinnat kauden parhaiksi |url=http://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2022/10/16/perinteinen-koplajoukkue-nimetty-jalkapallotoimittajien-valinnat-kauden-parhaiksi |access-date=1 February 2023 |website=www.veikkausliiga.com |language=fi}}</ref> *Veikkausliiga Most Assists of the Season: 2022
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Palermo FC squad}} {{Angola squad 2025 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Modesto, Rui}} Category:1999 births Category:Footballers from Évora District Category:Living people Category:21st-century Portuguese sportsmen Category:21st-century Angolan sportsmen Category:Portuguese people of Angolan descent Category:Sportspeople of Angolan descent Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Portuguese men's footballers Category:Angolan men's footballers Category:Angola men's international footballers Category:FC Honka players Category:AIK Fotboll players Category:Udinese Calcio players Category:Palermo FC players Category:Campeonato de Portugal (league) players Category:Kakkonen players Category:Veikkausliiga players Category:Allsvenskan players Category:Serie A players Category:2025 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers Category:Angolan expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Finland Category:Angolan expatriate sportspeople in Finland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Sweden Category:Angolan expatriate sportspeople in Sweden Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Angolan expatriate sportspeople in Italy