Portuguese footballer
Cristian Ioan Ponde (born 26 January 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga Portugal 2 club Marítimo.
Club career
Born in Făurești, Romania, Ponde emigrated to Portugal with his parents before his 10th birthday, and started playing football with S.C. Olhanense.[2] In 2005, he joined Sporting CP to complete his development.[3]
Ponde made his senior debut with the club's reserves on 24 February 2013, coming on as a substitute for fellow youth graduate Ricardo Esgaio for the final 14 minutes of a 5–1 home win against S.C. Freamunde in the Segunda Liga.[4] He scored his first goal as a professional on 30 March of that year, but in a 1–3 home loss to S.L. Benfica B.[5]
On 2 March 2014, during a second-tier game against S.C. Covilhã, Ponde contracted a serious injury to his right knee, going on to be sidelined for several months.[6] His only competitive appearance for the first team took place on 21 January 2015, when he played three minutes in a 3–2 defeat at C.F. Os Belenenses in the group stage of the Taça da Liga.[7]
For the 2016–17 season, Ponde was loaned to Covilhã.[8] He then took his game to the Ukrainian Premier League, where he represented FC Karpaty Lviv after signing a three-year contract.[9] He scored his first top-flight goal on 28 October 2018, contributing to the 5–0 away victory over FC Chornomorets Odesa.[10]
Ponde joined Grasshopper Club Zürich on 25 August 2020, on a one-year deal.[11] He returned to the Portuguese second division in summer 2021, agreeing to a one-year contract with the option of a further one at S.C. Farense.[12] He scored six goals in the 2022–23 campaign, adding six assists in a return to the Primeira Liga after a two-year absence.[13]
Ponde's first match in the top flight took place on 12 August 2023, replacing Elves Baldé at half-time of a 0–3 home loss against Casa Pia AC.[14] He scored his first league goal the following 18 May, but in a 1–3 home defeat to Portimonense S.C. in the Algarve derby.[15]
International career
Ponde represented Portugal at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.[16] He scored in his first appearance for the latter side, a 1–1 draw against Spain in a friendly tournament held in Hungary.[17]
Career statistics
- As of 9 December 2015[18]
Club
|
Season
|
League
|
Cup
|
League Cup
|
Europe
|
Other
|
Total
|
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals
|
Sporting CP B
|
2012–13
|
6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1
|
2013–14
|
21 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
1
|
2014–15
|
11 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
2
|
2015–16
|
10 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
4
|
Sporting CP
|
2014–15
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0
|
Career total
|
48 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
49 |
8
|
References
External links