Rodrigo Alves Soares was born on December 26 1992 in Porangatu, Brazil, and like almost every young child in his country he got involved with football almost from the cradle.

He turned professional at 20 years of age and played for União São João, before joining Santo André, and then switching to Grêmio Anápolis. He played there during the 2014-15 season, scoring one goal in 14 games and producing performances which proved enough to secure him a ticket to play in Europe.

Porto signed him and installed him in the club’s B Team for the next two seasons, while in 2017 he had a six-month stint at Chaves on loan, making his first appearances in the Liga NOS. The following season, Rodrigo searched for a club in the top division, to try and get the chance to show his full potential, and Aves gave him that opportunity.

In his first season with the club, the Brazilian full-back made 33 appearances, scored one goal and contributed two assists, while he was also a regular starter during the team’s successful cup run which earned him his first trophy and the club’s first silverware in its history. The first big step was made. The second was to come in the 2018-19 season.

Forty-one appearances, four goals and nine assists later, he was named as the best full-back in the Liga NOS that season, as well as picking up numerous other accolades on a pan-European level. Rodrigo’s excellent season had the scouts knocking on the door. Porto and Sporting Lisbon cast their nets, but it was PAOK who moved quicker and more methodical to being the Brazilian to Thessaloniki.

At the Double-headed Eagle, Rodrigo has celebrated one Greek Cup success and overall has made 63 appearances for the club, scoring one goal and dishing out seven assists so far.