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{{Short description|Portuguese former footballer (born 1978)}}
{{Portuguese name|Silva|Freitas Meira}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Fernando Meira
|image = FernandoMeira.jpg
|upright = 0.9
|caption = Meira in 2009
|full_name = Fernando José da Silva Freitas Meira<ref name=FBR>{{cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/415bd344/Fernando-Meira|title=Fernando Meira|publisher=FB Ref|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|6|5|df=y}}<ref name=Bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/fernando-meira_prs16084/person.shtml|title=Fernando Meira|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>
|birth_place = [[Guimarães]], Portugal<ref name=Bio/>
|height = 1.92 m<ref name=Bio/>
|position = [[Centre-back]], [[defensive midfielder]]
|youthyears1 = 1988–1992 | youthclubs1 = [[Vitória S.C.|Vitória Guimarães]]
|youthyears2 = 1992–1993 | youthclubs2 = Ribeira de Pena
|youthyears3 = 1993–1996 | youthclubs3 = [[Vitória S.C.|Vitória Guimarães]]
|years1 = 1996–2000 | clubs1 = [[Vitória S.C.|Vitória Guimarães]] | caps1 = 53 | goals1 = 2
|years2 = 1998–1999 | clubs2 = → [[F.C. Felgueiras|Felgueiras]] (loan) | caps2 = 33 | goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2000–2001 | clubs3 = [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] | caps3 = 46 | goals3 = 2
|years4 = 2002–2008 | clubs4 = [[VfB Stuttgart]] | caps4 = 173 | goals4 = 11
|years5 = 2008–2009 | clubs5 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] | caps5 = 21 | goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2009–2011 | clubs6 = [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit St. Petersburg]] | caps6 = 35 | goals6 = 1
|years7 = 2011–2012 | clubs7 = [[Real Zaragoza|Zaragoza]] | caps7 = 12 | goals7 = 0
|totalcaps = 373 |totalgoals = 16
|nationalyears1 = 1997–1998 | nationalteam1 = [[Portugal national under-20 football team|Portugal U20]] | nationalcaps1 = 14 | nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 1998–2000 | nationalteam2 = [[Portugal national under-21 football team|Portugal U21]] | nationalcaps2 = 20 | nationalgoals2 = 0
|nationalyears3 = 2004 | nationalteam3 = [[Portugal Olympic football team|Portugal Olympic]] ([[List of overage players in Olympic football|O.P.]]) | nationalcaps3 = 3 | nationalgoals3 = 1
|nationalyears4 = 2000–2008 | nationalteam4 = [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] | nationalcaps4 = 54 | nationalgoals4 = 2
}}
'''Fernando José da Silva Freitas Meira''' ({{IPA|pt|fɨɾˈnɐ̃du ˈmɐjɾɐ}}; born 5 June 1978) is a Portuguese former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played mainly as a [[central defender]].

In his country, he represented most notably [[Vitória S.C.|Vitória de Guimarães]], also playing one year with [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]. After a lengthy spell in Germany with [[VfB Stuttgart]], he went on to appear for teams in Turkey, Russia and Spain.<ref name=DN>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/dossiers/desporto/mundial2006/perfil/interior/fernando-meira-1011489.html|title=Fernando Meira|newspaper=[[Diário de Notícias]]|first=Susana|last=Pinheiro|language=pt|date=22 June 2006|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref>

A strong and skillful defender,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/euro2008/player-profiles/0,23132,13954_153392,00.html|title=Fernando Meira|publisher=[[Sky Sports]]|access-date=20 July 2008}}</ref> Meira played 54 times for the [[Portugal national football team|Portugal national team]], being part of the squads at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]].

==Club career==
===Early career and Benfica===
Born in [[Guimarães]], Meira began his professional career with hometown's [[Vitória S.C.|Vitória Sport Clube]], but only had one solid season with its first team, in [[1999–2000 Primeira Liga|1999–2000]] (precisely his last), as he appeared in 30 of his 53 games with the [[Minho Province|Minho]] side. In 1998 he was also loaned, to [[F.C. Felgueiras]] of the [[Liga Portugal 2|Segunda Liga]], being an essential defensive unit as they narrowly missed out on promotion after [[1998–99 Segunda Divisão de Honra|finishing fifth]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tribunaexpresso.pt/a-casa-as-costas/2017-07-09-Fernando-Meira-O-diretor-do-Zenit-foi-comigo-a-um-stand-e-mandou-me-escolher-o-carro.-Comecei-a-rir-e-sai-ao-volante-de-um-X6|title=Fernando Meira: "O diretor do Zenit foi comigo a um stand e mandou-me escolher o carro. Comecei a rir e saí ao volante de um X6"|trans-title=Fernando Meira: "The director of Zenit went with me to a dealership and told me to choose a car. I started laughing and left behind the wheel of a X6"|newspaper=[[Expresso (newspaper)|Expresso]]|first=Alexandra|last=Simões de Abreu|language=pt|date=9 July 2017|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>

In the summer of 2000, Meira joined [[Primeira Liga]] giants [[S.L. Benfica]] for a €4 million transfer fee plus one player. He played 31 matches in his [[2000–01 Primeira Liga|first season]] – 30 starts – and was also awarded [[Captain (association football)|team captaincy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/geral/06-07-2001/fernando-meira-capitao-do-benfica|title=Fernando Meira capitão do Benfica|trans-title=Fernando Meira Benfica captain|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=6 July 2001|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref> but the [[Lisbon]] club did not win any silverware during his stint.

===VfB Stuttgart===
In January 2002, Meira signed for [[VfB Stuttgart]] in Germany for €7.5 million;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/detalhe/fernando-meira-e-boa-oportunidade-para-provar-o-que-valho|title=Fernando Meira: "É boa oportunidade para provar o que valho"|trans-title=Fernando Meira: "It's a good opportunity to prove my worth"|newspaper=[[Record (Portuguese newspaper)|Record]]|language=pt|date=4 January 2002|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> it was the [[Bundesliga]] club's record transfer fee until July 2007, when they signed [[Ciprian Marica]] from [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk]] for €8 million,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=481150&root=europe&cc=5739|title=Bundesliga reaches cash crossroads|publisher=[[ESPN FC|ESPN Soccernet]]|date=13 November 2007|access-date=29 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223233929/http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=481150&root=europe&cc=5739|archive-date=23 December 2013}}</ref> and general manager [[Rolf Rüssmann]] described the player as a "trophy" signing, showing great ambitions for the future.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/fernando-meira-era-altura-de-buscar-algo-novo|title=Fernando Meira: "Era altura de buscar algo novo"|trans-title=Fernando Meira: "It was time to search for something new"|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=3 January 2002|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> He made his league debut on the 26th in a 3–0 home win against [[Hamburger SV]], playing the entire game as a [[centre-back|stopper]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/arquivo/interior.aspx?content_id=111543|title=Fernando Meira: "Trabalho com o objectivo de ir ao Mundial"|trans-title=Fernando Meira: "I work to go to the World Cup"|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=27 January 2002|access-date = 29 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/print-wams/article600175/HSV-im-Abstiegskampf.html|title=HSV im Abstiegskampf|trans-title=HSV in relegation battle|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|first=Matthias|last=Linnenbrügger|language=de|date=27 January 2002|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref>

Meira scored his first goal for Stuttgart on 23 February 2002, in a 1–1 draw at [[FC Hansa Rostock]] where he also conceded a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] which resulted in the opponents' goal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/detalhe/fernando-meira-faz-penalty-e-empata-de-cabeca|title=Fernando Meira faz «penalty» e empata de cabeça|trans-title=Fernando Meira concedes penalty and draws with his head|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=23 February 2002|access-date=29 September 2023}}</ref> His second came on 7 April in a 2–0 away victory over [[SC Freiburg]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/detalhe/fernando-meira-marca-golo|title=Fernando Meira marca golo|trans-title=Fernando Meira scores goal|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=8 April 2002|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> and he finished his [[2001–02 Bundesliga|first year]] with 14 league appearances to help his side finish in eighth position.

In the [[2002–03 Bundesliga|2002–03 campaign]], [[Felix Magath]] fielded Meira in 31 league games, only a suspension preventing him from taking part in all the fixtures as they finished second behind [[FC Bayern Munich]] to achieve [[2003–04 UEFA Champions League|qualification]] for the [[UEFA Champions League]]. He missed two [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] matches, including the home win against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in the [[2002–03 UEFA Cup|round of 16 second leg]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/2798753.stm|title=Celtic kill off Stuttgart|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=27 February 2003|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> and found the net in the second round's 2–0 home defeat of [[Ferencvárosi TC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/025a-0eaaee465244-8d4acf9ff704-1000/|title=Amanatidis inspires Stuttgart win|publisher=UEFA|date=12 November 2002|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>

For [[2006–07 Bundesliga|2006–07]], Meira was named captain by manager [[Armin Veh]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga/news/2006/index.php?f=35768.php|title=Don't look back|publisher=[[Bundesliga]]|date=2 August 2006|access-date=12 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214170442/http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga/news/2006/index.php?f=35768.php|archive-date=14 February 2012}}</ref> making him the first Portuguese ever to achieve that feat in the Bundesliga.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/article2220358/Wechselwuensche-nerven-Trainer-Armin-Veh.html|title=Wechselwünsche nerven Trainer Armin Veh|trans-title=Coach Armin Veh walks on egg shells|newspaper=Die Welt|first=Klaus|last=Schlütter|language=de|date=16 July 2008|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref> He appeared in 20 games and added three goals as the [[Baden-Württemberg]] club was crowned national champions for the first in 15 years,<ref name=RTE>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0519/page1141794.html|title=VfB Stuttgart crowned Bundesliga champions|publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]]|date=19 May 2007|access-date=30 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720005346/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0519/page1141794.html|archive-date=20 July 2009}}</ref> adding four in a [[2006–07 DFB-Pokal|runner-up run]] in the [[DFB-Pokal]].

Over a six-and-a-half-year spell, Meira made 230 competitive appearances and scored 13 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.bwin.com/de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vfb-stuttgart-verpflichtet-ozan-kabak-wenig-erfolg-mit-rekordtransfers|title=VfB Stuttgart: Wenig Erfolg mit Rekordtransfers|trans-title=VfB Stuttgart: Little success with record transfers|publisher=[[bwin]]|first=André|last=Winkelhagen|language=de|date=17 January 2019|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> He left the [[MHPArena|Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion]] in summer 2008, aged 30.

===Galatasaray===
On 20 July 2008, at the end of the [[2007–08 Bundesliga|2007–08 season]], Stuttgart stripped Meira of the captaincy and announced their intention to sell the player.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2008/24266.php|title=Meira departs going|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|date=20 July 2008|access-date=20 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524210323/https://www.webcitation.org/5nDsnq7Qn?url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/news/2008/24266.php|archive-date=24 May 2024}}</ref> Two days later, he agreed to a four-year deal at [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray SK]] for €4.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galatasaray.org/kulup/haber/1532.php |title=Fernando Meira Galatasaray'da!|trans-title=Fernando Meira signs with Galatasaray!|publisher=Galatasaray S.K.|language=tr|date=22 July 2008|access-date=22 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724162310/http://www.galatasaray.org/kulup/haber/1532.php|archive-date=24 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/23/sports/EU-SOC-Stuttgart-Meira.php|title=Portugal defender Fernando Meira leaves Stuttgart for Galatasaray|newspaper=[[New York Times International Edition|International Herald Tribune]]|date=23 July 2008|access-date=23 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724024523/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/23/sports/EU-SOC-Stuttgart-Meira.php|archive-date=24 July 2008}}</ref>

Meira made his official team debut in the [[Turkish Super Cup]], a [[2008 Turkish Super Cup|2–1 win]] against [[Kayserispor]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galatasaray.org/en/kulup/haber/51.php|title=Galatasaray won the Super Cup!|publisher=Galatasaray S.K.|date=17 August 2008|access-date=12 March 2009}}</ref> but left Turkey at the end of [[2008–09 Süper Lig|the campaign]], with his team only ranking fifth in the [[Süper Lig]].

===Zenit===
In mid-March 2009, after reported interest from [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg]] as the player grew unsettled in [[Istanbul]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://portugoal.net/index.php/more-galatasaray-news/601-meira-headed-for-zenit|title=Meira headed for Zenit?|publisher=PortuGOAL|first=Sean|last=Gillen|date=19 February 2009|access-date=31 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020452/http://portugoal.net/index.php/more-galatasaray-news/601-meira-headed-for-zenit|archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-galatasaray-news/606-zenits-meira-interest-confirmed|title=Zenit's Meira interest confirmed|publisher=PortuGOAL|first=Sean|last=Gillen|date=19 February 2009|access-date=31 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723231134/http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-galatasaray-news/606-zenits-meira-interest-confirmed|archive-date=23 July 2011}}</ref> Meira signed for the Russian club for €4.5&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01d7-0e71092935f2-5cfa4db07caa-1000--zenit-take-meira-off-galatasaray-s-hands/|title=Zenit take Meira off Galatasaray's hands|publisher=UEFA|date=11 March 2009|access-date=12 March 2009}}</ref> being awarded the number 3 shirt previously worn by [[Martin Škrtel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fc-zenit.ru/eng/details.phtml?id=5895|title=Fernando Meira chose shirt No 3|publisher=FC Zenit|date=11 March 2009|access-date=12 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317185400/http://www.fc-zenit.ru/eng/details.phtml?id=5895|archive-date=17 March 2009}}</ref>

He made his [[Russian Premier League]] debut on 15 March 2009, starting in a 1–1 away draw with [[FC Spartak Moscow]]. On 5 April he scored his first goal for his new team, in a 3–0 victory at [[FC Tom Tomsk]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://avozdeportugal.com/sylvioback/backup/2009/04-08-2009.pdf|title=Rússia|trans-title=Russia|newspaper=A Voz de Portugal|first=João|last=Mesquita|language=pt|date=8 April 2009|access-date=29 September 2023|page=31}}</ref>

===Later years===
On 15 August 2011, aged 33, Meira joined [[Real Zaragoza]] from Spain after mutually terminating his contract with Zenit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2011/08/15/mas_futbol/1313359243_850215.html|title=El Zaragoza anuncia el fichaje de Fernando Meira|trans-title=Zaragoza announce signing of Fernando Meira|newspaper=[[Diario AS]]|language=es|date=15 August 2011|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> He made his official debut 13 days later, starting and being [[yellow card (sport)|booked]] in a 6–0 home loss against [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/324018?cc=5739|title=Ronaldo gets Madrid show underway|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=28 August 2011|access-date=31 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102065146/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/324018?cc=5739|archive-date=2 November 2012}}</ref>

In his spell with the [[Aragon]]ese, Meira featured almost exclusively as a [[defensive midfielder]], partnering [[Leonardo Ponzio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://historico.aragondigital.es/noticia.asp?notid=87389|title=Aguirre encuentra el equilibrio con Ponzio y Meira|trans-title=Aguirre finds the balance with Ponzio and Meira|publisher=Aragón Digital|first=Francisco Javier|last=Castarlenas Vaquero|language=es|date=27 September 2011|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/noticias/deportes/aguirre-probo-ayer-juan-carlos-lafita-bandas_707185.html|title=Aguirre probó ayer con Juan Carlos y Lafita en las bandas|trans-title=Aguirre tested Juan Carlos and Lafita on the wings yesterday|newspaper=[[El Periódico de Aragón]]|language=es|date=13 October 2011|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> He terminated his contract on 1 February 2012, as the side were placed last in the league;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2012/02/01/futbol/equipos/zaragoza/1328125697.html|title=Fernando Meira deja el Real Zaragoza|trans-title=Fernando Meira leaves Real Zaragoza|newspaper=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]|first=Sonia|last=Gaudioso|language=es|date=1 February 2012|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref> later that year, not being able to find a new club, he retired from football.

==International career==
After having earned 20 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for [[Portugal national under-21 football team|the under-21s]], Meira made his full debut for [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] on 11 October 2000 in a [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifier]] against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2000/10/12/jornal/um-matador-chamado-pauleta-149917|title=Um "matador" chamado Pauleta|trans-title=A "killer" called Pauleta|newspaper=[[Público (Portugal)|Público]]|first=Manuel|last=Queiroz|language=pt|date=12 October 2000|access-date=29 April 2020}}</ref> In [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004]] he played three games at the [[Summer Olympic Games]], a [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics|group-stage exit]].<ref name=DN/>

Meira was selected for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] in Germany. Benefitting from injury to [[Jorge Andrade]], he appeared in all of Portugal's seven matches in the tournament as the national team finished fourth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bomdia.eu/euro2008-nuno-gomes-iguala-cinco-presencas-de-figo/|title=Euro2008 – Nuno Gomes iguala cinco presenças de Figo|trans-title=Euro2008 – Nuno Gomes equals Figo's five presences|publisher=Bom Dia|language=pt|date=1 June 2008|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>

Meira was also a regular fixture at [[UEFA Euro 2008]] held in Austria and Switzerland, taking part in the first three matches but missing the quarter-final clash with [[Germany national football team|Germany]], a 3–2 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7362969.stm|title=Portugal 2–0 Turkey|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Phil|last=McNulty|date=7 June 2008|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7362993.stm|title=Czech Republic 1–3 Portugal|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Ian|last=Hughes|date=11 June 2008|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2008/7363011.stm|title=Turkey 3–2 Czech R & Switzerland 2–0 Portugal|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Saj|last=Chowdhury|date=15 June 2008|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name=SW>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/fernando-meira/359/|title=Fernando Meira|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{ESPN FC|18615}}</ref><ref name=FBR/>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Taça de Portugal]], [[DFB-Pokal]], [[Turkish Cup]], [[Russian Cup (football)|Russian Cup]], [[Copa del Rey]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Taça da Liga]], [[Russian Premier League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Vitória S.C.|Vitória Guimarães]]
|[[1999–2000 Primeira Liga|1999–2000]]
|[[Primeira Liga]]
|30||2||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||2
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]
|[[2000–01 Primeira Liga|2000–01]]
|rowspan="2"|Primeira Liga
|31||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||36||0
|-
|[[2001–02 Primeira Liga|2001–02]]
|15||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!46!!2!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!2!!0!!53!!2
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[VfB Stuttgart]]
|[[2001–02 Bundesliga|2001–02]]
|rowspan="7"|[[Bundesliga]]
|14||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||2
|-
|[[2002–03 Bundesliga|2002–03]]
||31||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||6||1||39||2
|-
|[[2003–04 Bundesliga|2003–04]]
||32||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||8||0||43||1
|-
|[[2004–05 Bundesliga|2004–05]]
||16||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||3||1||20||2
|-
|[[2005–06 Bundesliga|2005–06]]
||32||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0||40||0
|-
|[[2006–07 Bundesliga|2006–07]]
||20||3||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||3
|-
|[[2007–08 Bundesliga|2007–08]]
||28||3||3||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0||37||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!173!!11!!15!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!29!!2!!217!!13
|-
|[[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]
|[[2008–09 Süper Lig|2008–09]]
|[[Süper Lig]]
|21||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||10||0||37||0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit]]
|[[2009 Russian Premier League|2009]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Russian Premier League]]
|22||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||26||1
|-
|[[2010 Russian Premier League|2010]]
|11||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||5||0||19||0
|-
|[[2011–12 Russian Premier League|2011–12]]
|1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||4||0||8||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!34!!1!!8!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!11!!0!!53!!1
|-
|[[Real Zaragoza|Zaragoza]]
|[[2011–12 La Liga|2011–12]]
|[[La Liga]]
|12||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||12||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!305!!16!!38!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!50!!2!!403!!18
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=24783|title=Fernando Meira|publisher=European Football|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
|2000||2||0
|-
|2001||5||0
|-
|2002||4||0
|-
|2003||7||0
|-
|2004||1||0
|-
|2005||7||2
|-
|2006||10||0
|-
|2007||8||0
|-
|2008||10||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!54!!2
|}

:''Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Meira goal.''

{{International goals header|ref=no|above=List of international goals scored by Fernando Meira}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=326978.html|title=Postiga on target for Portugal|publisher=UEFA|first=Onofre|last=Costa|date=18 August 2005|access-date=8 April 2020}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=EU/>
{{Ig match
| n= 1
| d= 4 June 2005
| st=Estádio da Luz| ci=Lisbon | co=Portugal
| o=Slovakia
| sc=1–0
| fr=2–0
| comp=[[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2006 World Cup qualification]]}}
{{Ig match
| n= 2
| d= 17 August 2005
| st=Estádio de São Miguel (Ponta Delgada)| ci=Ponta Delgada | co=Portugal
| o=Egypt
| sc=1–0
| fr=2–0
| comp=[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]}}
|}

==Honours==
'''VfB Stuttgart'''
*[[Bundesliga]]: [[2006–07 Bundesliga|2006–07]]<ref name=RTE/>
*[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2002]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round%3D1621/Match%3D70010/index.html|title=Stuttgart 2–0 Lille (aggregate: 2–1)|publisher=UEFA|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021021101811/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round%3D1621/Match%3D70010/index.html|archive-date=21 October 2002}}</ref>
*[[DFB-Pokal]] runner-up: [[2006–07 DFB-Pokal|2006–07]]
*[[DFB-Ligapokal]] runner-up: [[2005 DFB-Ligapokal|2005]]

'''Galatasaray'''
*[[Turkish Super Cup]]: [[2008 Turkish Super Cup|2008]]<ref name=SW/>

'''Zenit'''
*[[Russian Premier League]]: [[2010 Russian Premier League|2010]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[Russian Cup (football)|Russian Cup]]: [[2009–10 Russian Cup|2009–10]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[Russian Super Cup]]: [[2011 Russian Super Cup|2011]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsf.pt/desporto/porto/wagner-love-do-cska-nao-teme-jogo-frente-aos-dragoes-1800636.html|title=Wagner Love, do CSKA, não teme jogo frente aos "dragões"|trans-title=Wagner Love, of CSKA, does not fear match against "dragons"|publisher=[[TSF (radio station)|TSF]]|language=pt|date=7 March 2011|access-date=29 September 2023}}</ref>

'''Orders'''
*Medal of Merit, [[Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa]] ([[Duke of Braganza|House of Braganza]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cristianosantosronaldo.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html|title=Selecção distinguida pelo Duque de Bragança|trans-title=National team honoured by Duke of Bragança|publisher=Cristiano Ronaldo News|language=pt|date=30 August 2006|access-date=30 August 2006}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{ForaDeJogo}}
*{{Fussballdaten}}
*{{TFF player|1168318}}
*{{NFT player}}
*{{FIFA player|179162}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Portugal squads
|bg=#900020
|fg=gold
|bordercolor=
|list1=
{{Portugal men's football squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{Portugal squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Portugal squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meira, Fernando}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Portuguese sportsmen]]
[[Category:Portuguese men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Guimarães]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football utility players]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:Liga Portugal 2 players]]
[[Category:Vitória S.C. players]]
[[Category:F.C. Felgueiras players]]
[[Category:S.L. Benfica footballers]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. footballers]]
[[Category:Russian Premier League players]]
[[Category:FC Zenit Saint Petersburg players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Real Zaragoza players]]
[[Category:Portugal men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Portugal men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Portugal men's international footballers]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Portugal]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Portuguese association football commentators]]