Lionel Messi
Image credit: Getty Images
As the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup gets underway in the United States, Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira is making headlines while representing FC Porto, with his performances drawing both praise and criticism amid ongoing uncertainty over his future at the Emirates.
The 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder, currently on a season-long loan from Arsenal, has featured in both of Porto’s opening fixtures in the tournament. While he has shown flashes of technical brilliance, questions about his consistency and influence in high-stakes matches persist, factors that could determine whether he has a future under Mikel Arteta.
Porto began their Club World Cup campaign on June 15 with a goalless draw against Palmeiras at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Vieira started in a front three alongside Samuel Aghehowa and Rodrigo Mora, completing 80 passes at an 88% accuracy rate. However, he failed to register a shot on target and made only one key pass, drawing criticism from Portuguese outlet A Bola, which highlighted his indecision in key attacking moments.
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Vieira delivered a slightly improved display on June 19 as Porto fell 2-1 to Inter Miami in Atlanta. Despite the loss, he played the full 90 minutes, completing 74 passes at a 90% accuracy rate and contributing two key passes. One highlight, a cheeky nutmeg on Lionel Messi briefly lit up social media, with Arsenal fans praising the moment as a reminder of his technical skill. Still, the viral clip quickly turned bittersweet as Vieira passed the ball out of play immediately afterward, withArsenal Insider describing the moment as emblematic of his erratic Arsenal form.
Arsenal - Fabio Vieira
Fabio Vieira (Image credit: Getty Images)
Over the two matches, Vieira has completed 154 passes at an 89% accuracy rate, created three chances, and won 60% of his duels. Yet, with no goals or assists so far, doubts linger over his ability to impact games at the highest level. These performances are seen as crucial for the midfielder, who is fighting to salvage his Arsenal career after a mixed loan spell back at his boyhood club.
Signed for £34 million from Porto in 2022, Vieira has struggled to adapt to the Premier League, with 49 appearances for Arsenal marked more by flashes of promise than sustained quality. His return to Portugal has yielded five goals and five assists in 39 appearances, but Porto are reportedly hesitant to make the move permanent due to Arsenal’s valuation and the player’s £50,000-per-week wages.
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Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta is expected to oversee a summer clear-out, with Vieira among several names reportedly available for transfer. The Gunners’ pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, widely tipped to join the club further complicates Vieira’s prospects. Arsenal are also said to be raising funds for a marquee striker signing, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko high on the shortlist.
Fabio Vieira casually nutmegging Lionel Messi during FC Porto’s game against Inter Miami tonight. 🥜 pic.twitter.com/shfq8srocm
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) June 19, 2025
Speaking after the Palmeiras draw, Vieira remained non-committal about his future. “Right now is not the ideal time to talk about these issues,” as quoted by rg.org. “I am now representing FC Porto and I am 100% focused on this competition, with my teammates.” His comments have only fuelled speculation of a summer exit, with clubs across Europe likely to monitor his performances.
Porto next face Egyptian giants Al Ahly on June 23 in New Jersey, a match that could be decisive for their group-stage hopes and potentially for Vieira’s market value. But even a standout showing may not be enough to shift Arsenal’s stance, with The Evening Standard reporting that his physical struggles in the Premier League continue to cloud his long-term viability at the club.
Among Arsenal fans, Vieira remains a divisive figure. Many admire his technical flair and vision, qualities that once earmarked him as a natural understudy to Martin Ødegaard. Yet others have grown weary of his inconsistency, with one X user lamenting: “Vieira looked so smooth and promising in his YouTube reels, but turns up in the big league and he struggles.”
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