Yuri de Souza Fonseca (born 8 August 1982), known simply as Yuri, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
He also held Portuguese citizenship, and spent the majority of his 24-year career in Portugal and Spain, mainly with Ponferradina. Over ten seasons in the latter country, he achieved Segunda División figures of 323 games and 116 goals.
Club career Born in Maceió, Alagoas, Yuri arrived in Portugal still in his teens, joining Maia in the Segunda Liga. His performances there attracted the attention of another club in the north, Primeira Liga's Boavista, for which he signed in January 2003.Boavista contrata Yuri (Maia) (Boavista sign Yuri (Maia)); Mais Futebol, 9 December 2002 (in Portuguese)
However, Yuri could never impose himself at the side, going on to serve two loans in the process. He helped Gil Vicente to avoid top-flight relegation in his five-month spell,Yuri (Boavista) no Gil Vicente até ao final da época (Yuri (Boavista) to Gil Vicente until the end of the season); Mais Futebol, 30 December 2003 (in Portuguese)Portugal 2003/04; at RSSSF not being able to repeat it with Estoril in the following season.Ali por uma época (Ali for one season); Record, 31 August 2004 (in Portuguese)Portugal 2004/05; at RSSSF
In summer 2005, Yuri moved to Iberian neighbours Spain, representing lowly Pontevedra. He also had a loan spell at Las Palmas in Segunda División,La UD obtiene la cesión de Yuri (UD get Yuri loan); El Diario, 15 July 2007 (in Spanish) but only appeared in 12 matches out of 42 without scoring.YURI: "Lo mejor será que me vaya, no quiero seguir en esta situación" (YURI: "It's best for everyone that I leave, I don't want to continue this way"); La Provincia, 23 January 2008 (in Spanish)
Yuri signed for Ponferradina in 2009, going on to achieve two promotions to the second tier during his spellYuri: “Muchas veces lo pienso, llevo seis años en la Ponferradina y fue la decisión correcta” (Yuri: "I often think about it, I have been with Ponferradina for six years and it was the right decision"); Info Bierzo, 3 April 2015 (in Spanish)– to which he contributed a total of 26 goals – and eventually becoming captain.Yuri: "Estamos preparados para estas diez finales" (Yuri: "We are ready for these ten finals"); La Liga, 4 April 2014 (in Spanish)Díaz: "Yuri es el capitán y debería ser un ejemplo para sus compañeros" (Díaz: "Yuri is the captain and he should be an example for his teammates"); Mundo Deportivo, 27 November 2015 (in Spanish) In the 2012–13 campaign, he ranked third in the second division scorers' list at 21, helping his team to the seventh position.La Ponferradina no pierde cuando marca Yuri (Ponferradina do not lose when Yuri scores); Marca, 24 April 2014 (in Spanish)
On 15 January 2017, following a brief spell in the China League One, Yuri returned to the Estadio El Toralín aged 34.Yuri regresa a la Ponferradina (Yuri returns to Ponferradina); Diario AS, 15 January 2017 (in Spanish) He scored in double digits in division two in 2019–20 (18 goals),Yuri sigue siendo el rey (Yuri is still the king); La Nueva Crónica, 3 October 2021 (in Spanish) 2020–21 (11)Yuri seguirá marcando goles con la Ponferradina hasta los 40 años (Yuri will continue to score for Ponferradina until the age of 40); Marca, 14 June 2021 (in Spanish) and 2021–22 (14).El uruguayo Stuani y Borja Bastón comparten el título de máximo goleador (Uruguay's Stuani and Borja Bastón share top-scorer accolade); ABC Color, 29 May 2022 (in Spanish)
Yuri totalled an all-time best for Ponferradina 511 appearances and 197 goals. He retired in August 2024 at 42, with the club now in the Primera Federación; he remained connected to it in directorial capacities.Yuri abre una nueva etapa en la Deportiva (Yuri opens new spell at Deportiva); SD Ponferradina, 12 August 2024 (in Spanish)
Personal life Yuri's older brother, Igor, was also a footballer and a forward. They shared teams at Maia (where they arrived at a young age) and Pontevedra.Fenómeno luso-brasileiro esteve perto de provocar um escândalo na Taça do Rei (Portuguese-Brazilian phenomenon nearly caused major upset in King's Cup); Mais Futebol, 4 January 2022 (in Portuguese)
His cousin, Charles, also played several seasons in Spain and also represented Pontevedra.Yuri, "orgulloso" de liderar el Pichichi con su primo Charles (Yuri, "proud" to top Pichichi with his cousin Charles); Marca, 4 December 2012 (in Spanish)La ‘familia Gol’ (The 'Goal family'); El País, 15 December 2012 (in Spanish)
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