A relative latecomer to the international arena, João Pereira nailed down a place as Portugal's preferred right-back during UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, starting all eight matches under coach Paulo Bento.

• Made the grade as a midfielder with SL Benfica, coming through the Lisbon club's youth system before making his debut on 17 August 2003 in a goalless draw at Boavista FC.

• Made 27 appearances − 16 from the start − in Benfica's 2004/05 Liga title win under Giovanni Trapattoni but fell out with the Italian's successor, Ronald Koeman, the following season and was despatched on loan to Gil Vicente FC, eventually signing a permanent deal with the club despite their relegation to the second tier.

• Returned to the top flight with SC Braga and spent the next two and a half seasons as the Minho club's first-choice right-back before switching midway through 2009/10 campaign to Sporting Clube de Portugal.

• Made 24 Liga appearances, scoring two goals, as Sporting qualified for the UEFA Europa League via a third-place finish in 2010/11.

• An Under-21 international, he made his senior debut, aged 26, in Paulo Bento's first match as Portugal coach, a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier at home to Denmark, and remained in situ for remainder of campaign, succeeding previous incumbents Paulo Ferreira, Miguel and José Bosingwa as the team's regular right-back.