# Diego Eli

Diego Eli Moreira (Chinese: 迪高; born 4 September 1988) is a professional footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Hong Kong Premier League club Kowloon City. Born in Brazil, he plays for the Hong Kong national team.

## Club career

After playing for several clubs in Brazil, Diego signed for Tuen Mun of Hong Kong First Division in 2012. In the following season, he signed with fellow Hong Kong First Division club Eastern on a free transfer.
On 1 June 2021, after staying at Eastern for 8 years, Diego signed for Lee Man.
On 18 July 2024, Diego joined Kowloon City.
On 1 September 2024, Diego scored against Tai Po on his debut for Kowloon City.

## International career

On 22 December 2019, after staying in Hong Kong for seven years, Diego confirmed that he had received his HKSAR passport, making him eligible to represent Hong Kong internationally.
On 17 May 2021, Diego received his first call-up alongside 2 teammates from Eastern to the Hong Kong national football team to play against Iran, Iraq and Bahrain for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. On 3 June 2021, Diego made his international debut for Hong Kong against Iran.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 19 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Senior Shield | Senior Shield | League Cup | League Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | AFC Cup | AFC Cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Tuen Mun | 2012–13 | Hong Kong First Division | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 1 |
| Eastern | 2013–14 | Hong Kong First Division | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1 |
| Eastern | 2014–15 | Hong Kong Premier League | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 4 |
| Eastern | 2015–16 | Hong Kong Premier League | 13 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 5 |
| Eastern | 2016–17 | Hong Kong Premier League | 15 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 10 |
| Eastern | 2017–18 | Hong Kong Premier League | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 1 |
| Eastern | 2018–19 | Hong Kong Premier League | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Eastern | 2019–20 | Hong Kong Premier League | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 4 |
| Eastern | 2020–21 | Hong Kong Premier League | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Eastern | Total | Total | 108 | 14 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 150 | 27 |
| Lee Man | 2021–22 | Hong Kong Premier League | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Lee Man | 2022–23 | Hong Kong Premier League | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Lee Man | 2023–24 | Hong Kong Premier League | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Lee Man | Total | Total | 23 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 148 | 15 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 204 | 29 |

### International

    As of matches played 11 June 2022
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Hong Kong | 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| Hong Kong | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 4 | 0 |
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 3 June 2021 | Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad, Bahrain | Iran | 1–3 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 2 | 11 June 2021 | Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad, Bahrain | Iraq | 0–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 3 | 15 June 2021 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain | Bahrain | 0–4 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 4 | 11 June 2022 | Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, India | Cambodia | 3–0 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification – third round |

## Honours
### Club

Eastern
* Hong Kong Premier League: 2015–16
* Hong Kong Senior Shield: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20
* Hong Kong FA Cup: 2013–14, 2019–20
* Hong Kong Sapling Cup: 2020–21
Lee Man
* Hong Kong Premier League: 2023–24