Pedro Amador Bio
Pedro Miguel Santos Amador, born on 18 December 1998, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back. He currently represents Major League Soccer club Atlanta United, having joined the franchise in the summer of 2024 on a two-year contract with a one-year extension option.
Standing 1.81 m tall, Amador has built his career in Portugal before taking his game abroad. A product of the Sporting CP youth system, he progressed through several Portuguese clubs before earning a move to one of the league’s most followed franchises in the United States.
Early Life and Background
Pedro Miguel Santos Amador was born on 18 December 1998 in Póvoa de Santa Iria, a town in the municipality of Loures, Lisbon District, Portugal. Growing up in the greater Lisbon area, he was introduced to football at a young age through local youth academies, where his development as a left-back began to take shape.
Between 2007 and 2013, he featured in the youth setup of Sporting CP, one of Portugal’s most storied football clubs. During those formative years, he trained alongside some of the country’s top young talents, refining the technical and tactical foundations that would later define his senior career. After departing Sporting’s academy, he spent time with Sacavenense between 2013 and 2016, before finishing his youth development at Belenenses from 2016 to 2017.
Path to Soccer
Amador’s transition from youth football to the senior ranks began in the lower tiers of Portuguese football, where he joined S.U. 1º Dezembro for the 2017 to 2018 season. This period allowed him to gain valuable first-team minutes and adjust to the physical demands of adult competition.
On 31 January 2018, his performances earned him a move to S.C. Braga, where he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract and was initially assigned to the club’s reserve side competing in the LigaPro. The pathway from a lower-division club to a top-flight organization marked a significant step in his professional development and set the stage for his eventual promotion to senior football at the highest level in Portugal.
Pedro Amador Career
Early Career (2017-2020)
Amador started his senior career with S.U. 1º Dezembro in the Portuguese lower leagues during the 2017-2018 campaign. His time there was brief but provided an important bridge between youth football and the professional ranks, allowing him to demonstrate the consistency required to attract attention from bigger clubs.
Following his transfer to S.C. Braga in January 2018, he was integrated into the reserve squad and made his professional debut on 31 March 2018, playing the full match in a 1-1 away draw against Varzim S.C. in the LigaPro. He opened his goal account in the second division on 19 January 2019, finding the net in a 3-1 home victory over F.C. Paços de Ferreira.
Sporting Clube de Braga Breakthrough (2018-2020)
Amador’s rise within the Braga system culminated in his first-team debut during the 2019-2020 Primeira Liga season. On 23 February 2020, he was introduced as a first-half substitute for the injured Nuno Sequeira in a 3-1 home win over Vitória de Setúbal, marking his maiden appearance in Portugal’s top flight.
Just over a week later, on 6 March 2020, he made his first start for the senior side in another 3-1 victory, this time against Portimonense SC at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. These performances signalled his readiness for sustained top-flight football and drew attention from clubs in need of a dependable left-back.
Moreirense Era (2020-2024)
On 14 August 2020, Amador signed a four-year contract with Moreirense F.C., also of the Primeira Liga, beginning the most extensive chapter of his Portuguese career. The move offered him the opportunity to establish himself as a regular starter, although his progress was disrupted by a serious cruciate ligament injury to his left knee that forced him to miss the majority of his first season.
Despite the setback, Amador returned to feature regularly and went on to total 79 appearances across his time at the club. His only goal for Moreirense came on 14 October 2022 in a 3-0 home win over U.D. Vilafranquense in the third round of the Taça de Portugal, a memorable moment in an otherwise defensively oriented role.
Atlanta United Era (2024-Present)
Amador joined Major League Soccer side Atlanta United FC on 1 July 2024, signing a two-year deal with the option of a one-year extension. The transfer represented his first move outside Portuguese football and offered him the chance to test himself in a new league with a passionate fanbase.
He has also featured for Atlanta United 2, the club’s developmental side, as part of his integration into the North American game. Wearing the number 18 shirt, Amador has continued to operate primarily at left-back, providing width, defensive solidity, and overlapping runs for the Atlanta attack as he adapts to the pace and physicality of MLS competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Amador is recognized as a defensively disciplined left-back who combines positional awareness with the stamina to contribute in attack. His time across multiple Portuguese clubs has honed his tactical understanding, while his experience returning from a serious knee injury has added a layer of mental toughness to his game. Operating on the left flank, he offers a balance of defensive coverage and forward support that fits well within modern full-back roles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Amador’s career is his Primeira Liga debut for Braga in February 2020, a match in which he was unexpectedly called into action following an early injury to a teammate. His recovery from a cruciate ligament injury and subsequent return to make nearly eighty appearances for Moreirense stands as a testament to his resilience, while his move to Atlanta United in 2024 marked a major milestone as his first transfer abroad.
Pedro Amador Career Wins
Pedro Amador’s career has been defined more by steady progression and reliable performances than by trophy collections. Across his time at 1º Dezembro, Braga, Moreirense, and Atlanta United, he has built a reputation as a dependable defender whose contributions have often laid the groundwork for team success.
Primeira Liga Highlights
In Portugal’s top flight, Amador made his debut for Braga and went on to spend several productive seasons with Moreirense. While he did not capture major silverware at the senior level during this period, he accumulated significant top-flight experience, including appearances in domestic cup competition.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond league play, Amador featured in the Taça de Portugal during his time at Moreirense, scoring in a 3-0 third-round win over U.D. Vilafranquense in October 2022. He has also represented Atlanta United 2 in MLS NEXT Pro as part of his broader contribution to the Atlanta United setup.
Pedro Amador Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited publicly available information regarding Pedro Amador’s family background. His roots in Póvoa de Santa Iria, in the Loures municipality near Lisbon, connect him to a community with a strong footballing culture, though no specific family members involved in professional sport have been publicly documented.
Personal Life
Amador has kept his personal life largely private, with no confirmed public information about a spouse, partner, or children. His focus appears to be centred on his professional career, having relocated to Atlanta in 2024 to continue his development in Major League Soccer.
2025 Season Performance
Pedro Amador is in the midst of his first full season with Atlanta United after joining midway through 2024. Operating at left-back under the club’s current setup, he continues to provide defensive structure and width on the left flank, contributing to a back line that has been central to the team’s approach in the 2025 MLS campaign.
Having already featured for Atlanta United 2 during his transition to the league, Amador has settled into a regular role with the senior squad, building chemistry with his teammates and adapting to the travel demands and stylistic differences of North American soccer.
With his contract running through 2026 and an extension option available, Amador’s performances in 2025 will be crucial in determining both his long-term future in Atlanta and his continued growth as a top-flight professional in a new league.