João Paulo Mior (born 8 March 1991), known as João Paulo, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. Since 2026, he has been an assistant coach with Tacoma Defiance of MLS Next Pro in the United States.
Career
João Paulo played youth futsal until the age of 14, when he switched to football on a full-time basis. He made his professional debut for Internacional in the 2010 Campeonato Gaúcho and he spent three seasons with the club. He was then loaned out to Atlético Goianiense in 2013, Goiás in 2014, and Santa Cruz in 2015. João Paulo transferred permanently to Santa Cruz in 2016 before being signed by Botafogo, where he played for three seasons and made 68 appearances, scoring five goals.
Seattle Sounders FC
On 31 January 2020, João Paulo was signed on loan by Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer to a Designated Player contract. He made his debut in two 2020 CONCACAF Champions League fixtures, playing both legs in the Round of 16 against Honduran club C.D. Olimpia. During the first leg in San Pedro Sula, João Paulo scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw; in the second leg, he scored Seattle's second goal in another 2–2 draw and converted his penalty in the shootout, but the Sounders were unable to advance. In his first MLS season with the club, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, João Paulo made 19 appearances, including 17 starts, scoring two goals and recording five assists as a deep-lying playmaker.
His loan was made permanent by Seattle on 21 January 2021. João Paulo scored the club's first goal of the 2021 season, a volley from outside the penalty area against Minnesota United FC, which was voted MLS Goal of the Week. He played 31 matches for the Sounders during the regular season and scored three total goals, including another Goal of the Week winner in October against the Colorado Rapids. João Paulo was named to the five-candidate shortlist for the Landon Donovan MVP Award for his 11 assists and defensive performances, which helped the Sounders qualify for the playoffs despite a depleted roster.
João Paulo scored his first goal of the 2022 season against Minnesota—his third against the club—during a 2–1 away victory on 2 April. He played through Seattle's run to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, where he started in both legs as the Sounders won their first continental title. João Paulo left the final's second leg in the first half with an anterior cruciate ligament tear that left him unable to play for the rest of the year. His role in midfield was initially replaced with 16-year-old youth product Obed Vargas, who he had mentored, but Vargas suffered a back injury a month later. The lack of available defensive midfielders on the team was a factor in Seattle missing the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in their history.
On 16 November 2025, João Paulo announced that he would leave the club and enter free agency. He played 119 matches across all competitions for the Sounders and scored six goals. On 21 January 2026, João Paulo announced his retirement on Instagram.
Coaching career
On 2 February 2026, the Tacoma Defiance announced João Paulo as an assistant coach for the team, which serves as the reserve side for the Sounders and plays in MLS Next Pro.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsInternacional2010Série A0030———302011Série A14010———1502012Série A40141—40—2212013Série A—30———30Total180211—40—431Atlético Goianiense (loan)2013Série B35410230——486Goiás (loan)2014Série A50701000—130Santa Cruz (loan)2015Série B341112—30—483Santa Cruz2016Série A34210130—100576Botafogo2017Série A3026060131—5532018Série A2012010——1502019Série A363712040—494Total68525190171—1197Seattle Sounders FC (loan)2020MLS232——2240254Seattle Sounders FC2021MLS323———403632022MLS61—0060—1212023MLS310—10—703902024MLS210—20—90320Total804—30602001194Career total3071883719032334048031
Personal life
João Paulo has been a fan of American football since his childhood and supports the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the nephew of former Gremio player Casemiro Mior.
Honours Internacional Recopa Sudamericana: 2011
Santa Cruz Campeonato Pernambucano: 2015, 2016 Copa do Nordeste: 2016
Botafogo Campeonato Carioca: 2018
Seattle Sounders FC CONCACAF Champions League: 2022
Individual MLS All-Star: 2021 MLS Best XI: 2021
References
External links