Dário Essugo: Portugal’s Next Modern Midfielder
Sporting Clube de Portugal, or simply Sporting, has enjoyed a resurgence in the last two decades, highlighted by five domestic titles under former manager Ruben Amorim, including a league championship that ended a 19-year drought. Beyond trophies, Sporting’s academy has been a cornerstone of its success, producing talents like Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma, Geny Catamo, and Geovany Quenda. Among these rising stars, one name stands out this season—not in Lisbon, but in LaLiga: Dário Essugo.
At just 19 years old, Essugo is making waves during his loan spell at Las Palmas. Despite relatively quiet loan moves, first to Chaves and now in Spain, he has caught the attention of major clubs like Leeds United and Chelsea, the latter reportedly eyeing him as a prospect for their French affiliate, Strasbourg.
Born in 2005, Essugo joined Sporting’s academy at nine and has been turning heads ever since. A career highlight came in the 2022 UEFA U-17 Championship, where he played a key role in Portugal’s run to the semifinals, even scoring a stunning long-range goal. Now, in his breakthrough season, Essugo has started 12 of Las Palmas’ 14 league matches, steadily cementing himself as a key figure in the starting lineup.
This article will explore Essugo’s potential, analyzing his strengths both in and out of possession, while also highlighting areas for improvement.
Player Profile:
Dário Essugo stands at 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) and is a right-footed defensive midfielder with the versatility to play as either a lone number six or as part of a double pivot. His heat map, shown below, highlights his primary role in deep central areas of the pitch, where is tasked with anchoring the midfield. However, Essugo also demonstrates the ability to push further up the field and operate as a number eight, adding another layer of flexibility to his game.
For a player of his age to excel in the number six role—arguably one of the most demanding and tactically sensitive positions in football—while also showing competence higher up the pitch, is a testament to his impressive talent.
Photo: Sofascore
In-Possession Qualities
Starting with the player’s qualities, one standout trait that immediately catches the eye—something stats can’t fully capture—is his off-ball movement when Las Palmas are in possession. Watching “El Pio-Pio,” as they’re known in Spain, it’s clear the team prefers a direct approach to the game. They frequently draw the opposition into their own defensive third before launching long balls to exploit the space created for their wide players to attack or chase.
The graph below highlights this tendency, illustrating the team’s preference for a more vertical style of football over slower, patient build-up play. transitions and link up play effectively.
Photo: @DataAnalyticEPL
In this system, Essugo’s intelligent positioning and off-ball movement are absolutely vital. He’s always on the move, pulling opposition players out of position and creating pockets of space for his teammates to exploit with long balls. If defenders follow him higher up the pitch, they risk leaving gaps behind them for Las Palmas to attack.
On the other hand, if they hold their ground, Essugo positions himself as a free option in midfield, ready to receive the ball and help his team progress through a more measured build-up.
Essugo’s positional awareness is far beyond what you’d expect from a player his age. He doesn’t just settle for creating space for others; he consistently positions himself in the right areas to actively contribute to ball progression.
Whether it’s offering a passing option in midfield or anticipating the next phase of play, Essugo’s understanding of positioning showcases a level of tactical intelligence that sets him apart from his peers.
Essugo also uses his relentless and intelligent movement to offer himself as a passing option during build-up play. While Las Palmas often bypass the build-up phase with long balls, that doesn’t mean Essugo isn’t actively involved. In fact, his ability to position himself effectively ensures he remains a key outlet when needed.
According to FBref, Essugo averages 4.16 touches in the defensive third and 19.21 touches in the middle third per 90 minutes—numbers that place him in high percentiles compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues. This highlights his influence on the game, even in a system that prioritizes direct play.
Photo: FBRef
Essugo keeps things ticking at the back with his steady and effective passing game. He frequently plays quick bounce passes, distributes the ball sideways to maintain possession, and isn’t afraid to break opposition lines with progressive passes when the opportunity arises.
In many ways, he’s a metronomic player, keeping the tempo steady and recycling possession with simple, efficient passes. This approach allows Las Palmas to draw the opposition out of position while his teammates work to create or exploit spaces further up the pitch.
It’s true that Essugo only averages 4.54 progressive passes per 90 minutes, placing him in the 43rd percentile among midfielders. However, this is largely a reflection of Las Palmas’ overall style of play, where the responsibility for progressive passing typically falls on the back line. Despite this, Essugo still ranks as Las Palmas’ fourth-highest player for passes into the final third, with a total of 44.
Essugo’s ability to switch play is another standout aspect of his game, particularly from the right-hand side, where he can deliver precise diagonal balls with his stronger foot. This skill is invaluable for his team, as it allows them to manipulate the opposition’s defensive block and exploit the spaces created in wide areas. Despite Las Palmas’ preference for direct play, Essugo averages 0.47 switches per 90 minutes, ranking him in the impressive 75th percentile among midfielders.
Much like his progressive passing, Essugo’s carrying statistics might seem underwhelming at first glance, as he sits in average percentiles for both carries and progressive carrying distance. However, this doesn’t imply that he lacks the ability to perform these actions. When given the opportunity, Essugo has shown he is more than capable of driving forward with the ball, adding another layer to his versatility as a midfielder.
Photo: FBRef.com
The young Portuguese has a 69.2% take-on success rate, which comes from his ability to carry the ball through opponents using pace and power. He’s capable of disguising his movements, making it seem like he’s heading one way before using a subtle touch to change direction. This allows him to beat players effectively and progress the ball when needed.
What makes Essugo’s ball carrying so effective is the way he uses his body to shield the ball. He maintains close control while protecting it with his frame, using his strength to push opponents off and leaving them with few options to dispossess him without committing a foul. This might explain why Essugo is one of the most fouled players in Europe’s top five leagues, drawing 1.80 fouls per 90 minutes, which places him in the 81st percentile among midfielders.
Given how much Essugo relies on his physicality, especially when carrying the ball, one might assume he lacks finesse in his touch. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Watching him play reveals that he’s technically secure, capable of receiving the ball comfortably with either foot—even under pressure.
He often uses the inside of his foot to control the ball, dragging it with him while smoothly turning away to evade oncoming opponents. This combination of strength and technique makes him a well-rounded midfielder.
Out-of-Possession Qualities
When it comes to Dário’s out-of-possession abilities, his defensive movement mirrors the intelligence he shows when Las Palmas have the ball. He’s constantly on the move, tracking runners and shutting down passing lanes to disrupt the opposition’s play.
While he’s not the fastest player, he has solid recovery pace that allows him to cover ground quickly and get back to make tackles when needed. This is reflected in his impressive defensive stats, with Essugo averaging 1.89 tackles won per 90 minutes, highlighting his effectiveness in regaining possession for his team.
Photo: FBRef
But once again, it’s Essugo’s clever positioning and ability to anticipate passes that make him stand out defensively. He averages 2.18 interceptions per game, putting him in the 99th percentile among midfielders—a remarkable achievement. Despite not being the tallest, he consistently manages to get his foot in ahead of the ball receiver, which comes down to his excellent positioning and precise timing when making tackles.
Much like when carrying the ball, Essugo uses his body effectively to shield it, only this time to outmuscle opponents and regain possession. This combination of intelligence, timing, and physicality makes him a highly reliable presence in defensive situations.
With his ability to play higher up the pitch, Essugo is an excellent fit for high-pressing teams. Even though he spends most of his time as the deepest midfielder, he still ranks in the 79th percentile for tackles in the attacking third.
His aggressive nature shines in these moments, and when combined with his sharp timing—knowing exactly when to put in a tackle or stick a leg out—he becomes a key asset in sustaining pressure in the final third. By disrupting the opposition’s build-up play, he helps limit their chances to progress through the thirds, making him a valuable player for teams looking to press high and regain possession quickly.
When it comes to aerial duels, Essugo doesn’t disappoint. While he’s not the tallest player on the pitch, his strength and excellent timing when jumping give him an edge in these contests. This is reflected in his 60.9% success rate in aerial duels, which places him in the 90th percentile among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.
His ability to consistently win challenges in the air adds another dimension to his game, making him a reliable presence in both defensive and offensive situations.
Areas to improve
Although Essugo is positionally disciplined most of the time, his aggressive nature can occasionally impact his decision-making when choosing whether to hold his position or step forward. At times, the 19-year-old becomes too focused on winning the ball back, which can leave space behind him when he pushes forward to make a tackle. This occasionally results in him committing fouls or picking up unnecessary cards.
However, there are signs of improvement in this area—his fouls committed have dropped from 1.96 per 90 last season to 1.51 this season. This suggests that Essugo is learning to better control his aggressiveness, showing growth in his decision-making and maturity on the pitch.
Another area where Essugo could look to improve is his approach to certain tackles. At times, he rushes to intercept the ball before fully planting his feet in the ground, which makes it easier for opposition players—particularly those with strong technical skills—to dribble past him.
That said, according to OddAlert.com, Essugo has only been dribbled past 11 times so far this season, which is an impressive stat. Still, addressing this subtle weakness in his game could take his defensive abilities to the next level, making him an even more complete midfielder.
At just 19 years of age, few midfielders operating in such a delicate position come as complete as Dário Essugo. He possesses a range of attributes that even many senior players struggle to master. His clever and tireless off-ball movement is reminiscent of Martín Zubimendi. His press resistance, though still developing, brings to mind Chelsea’s Roméo Lavia. And his dueling ability and aggressive nature are comparable to Moisés Caicedo.
Perhaps these similarities to two of Chelsea’s standout players explain why the Blues have already been linked with the young Portuguese talent. But one thing is certain: No matter which club Dario might join in the future, with the right environment and proper development, Dário Essugo is destined to make his mark on the football world sooner rather than later.
By: Mohamed Fathalli / @FathalliMohamed
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Gualter Fatia / Getty Images