João Victor de Souza Menezes (born 16 June 2006), commonly known as Souza, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a left-back for Santos.
Club career Born in Mauá, São Paulo, Souza joined Santos' youth setup in 2016, aged nine, after playing for the futsal team of Juventus-SP. On 12 July 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the club, after agreeing to a three-year deal.
On 6 February 2024, Souza was registered in the first team squad for the 2024 Campeonato Paulista, after Kevyson's injury. He made his first team debut five days later, coming on as a second-half substitute for goalscorer Hayner in a 2–2 away draw against Mirassol.
Mainly a backup to Gonzalo Escobar, Souza played in eight Série B matches as the club achieved promotion back to the top tier as champions. On 28 November 2024, he renewed his contract until 2028.
In January 2025, Souza suffered an ankle injury, being sidelined for three months. Still a second-choice behind Escobar, he scored his first professional goal on 26 October, netting his side's first in a 2–2 away draw against Botafogo.
