Luighi

Luighi
Luighi with New York City FC in 2026
Personal information
Full name Luighi Hanri Sousa Santos
Date of birth (2006-04-30) 30 April 2006 (age 20)
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 New York City FC (on loan from Palmeiras)
Number 20
Youth career
2016–2024 Palmeiras
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Palmeiras 45 (5)
2026– → New York City FC (loan) 7 (4)
International career
2023 Brazil U17 5 (2)
2025 Brazil U20 4 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12 September 2026

Luighi Hanri Sousa Santos (born 30 April 2006), simply known as Luighi, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for New York City FC, on loan from Palmeiras.

Career

Palmeiras

Luighi with Palmeiras in 2024

At Palmeiras since he was 10 years old, Luighi was appointed by the press as one of the players of the so-called "Palmeiras' Generation of a Billion", alongside Endrick, Estevão Willian and Luis Guilherme. Representing Brazil, he participated in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, making 5 appearances and scoring 2 goals.

On 26 June 2024, Luighi was promoted by coach Abel Ferreira definitively to the professional team of Palmeiras. He made his professional debut on 7 July 2024, in a match against Bahia.

On 6 March 2025, Luighi was racially abused by Cerro Porteño a fan while playing in a match between Palmeiras and Cerro Porteño for the U-20 Copa Libertadores in Paraguay. He said afterwards that "it hurts the soul". In September 2025, Luighi was part of the squad that competed in 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Loan to New York City FC

On 28 July 2026, it was announced that Luighi had joined MLS club New York City FC on loan through the remainder of the 2026 season, with an option to buy. He had a very successful start, scoring four goals in eight matches.

Honours

Palmeiras U20

Palmeiras U17

Palmeiras

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ – Squad List: Palmeiras (BRA)" (PDF). FIFA. 4 July 2025. p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Luighi Hanri Sousa Santos". SE Palmeiras (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "Luighi, Estêvão, Luis Guilherme, Endrick: geração de R$ 1 bilhão do Palmeiras brilha em três seleções". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 18 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "Palmeiras renova contratos de Luighi e Rafael Coutinho, joias da base". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Conheça Patrick e Luighi, destaques da base do Palmeiras relacionadas por Abel Ferreira". Nosso Palestra (in Portuguese). 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "Match report on Luighi's professional debut". Soccerway. 7 July 2024. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "'It hurts the soul', says Brazilian player Luighi after facing racial abuse in Paraguay". Reuters. 7 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "Sub-20 é convocada para o Mundial com Luighi, do Palmeiras, e herói do Fla". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 18 September 2025. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025.
  9. ↑ FC, New York City. "New York City FC Acquires Forward Luighi Hanri Sousa Santos on Loan from SE Palmeiras". New York City FC. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  10. ↑ "[MLS] Luighi, ex-Palmeiras, marca quatro gols em oito jogos e reanima o NYCFC - Quinto Quarto" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 September 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2026.