A native of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, Gerso played more than 150 matches during a six-year stint in Portugal before arriving at Sporting KC in early 2017. He had spent each of the previous five seasons in the Portuguese first division, including the 2016-17 Primeira Liga campaign with Belenenses.
2020: MLS regular season: Started 10 of 19 appearances and recorded three goals and three assists (820 minutes played). Recorded a brilliant assist on Erik Hurtado's late goal in a 3-1 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Feb. 29. Scored the second goal in a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on July 22. Assisted Khiry Shelton's equalizer in a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on Sept. 2. Assisted Johnny Russell's goal in a 2-1 loss to Orlando City SC on Sept. 23. Scored the equalizing goal in a 2-1 comeback win over Nashville SC on Oct. 11. Scored a brilliant late goal in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Oct. 24. MLS is Back Tournament: Started one of five appearances and scored one goal (164 minutes played). Scored the second goal in a 2-0 group stage win over Real Salt Lake on July 22. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started two matches and recorded one assist (157 minutes played). Played 89 minutes in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Nov. 22, assisting Gianluca Busio's 91st-minute goal as Sporting defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw. Played 68 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Minnesota United in the Western Conference Semifinals on Dec. 3.
2019: MLS regular season: Started 20 of 25 appearances, scored two goals and recorded six assists (1,749 minutes played). Assisted Felipe Gutierrez's goal and Krisztian Nemeth's first of three goals in a record-breaking 7-1 win over the Montreal Impact on March 30. Assisted Felipe Gutierrez's game-winner in a 1-0 road victory over Columbus Crew SC on June 23. Orchestrated all three goals in a 3-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 13, forcing an Ali Adnan own goal, assisting Felipe Gutierrez's long-range strike and adding a late third of his own. Assisted Erik Hurtado's match-winner in a 3-2 victory at Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 4. Assisted Felipe Gutierrez's first goal in a loss at the LA Galaxy on Sept. 15. Scored an early goal in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 21. Concacaf Champions League: Started four of six appearances, scored four goals and recorded two assists (438 minutes played. Started in both wins over Deportivo Toluca FC, bagging a goal and an assist in a 3-0 first-leg victory at Children's Mercy Park before scoring the game-winner in a 2-0 second-leg triumph at Toluca. Assisted Krisztian Nemeth's late goal in a 3-0 second-leg win over Independiente in the Quarterfinals on March 14. Scored both goals for Sporting in a 5-2 semifinal defeat to Monterrey on April 11. Open Cup: Started and played 90 minutes in the Fourth Round against Minnesota, scoring the club's lone goal in a 4-1 loss.
2018: MLS regular season: Started 17 of 31 appearances, recording five goals and five assists (1,591 minutes played). Came off the bench to assist Diego Rubio's dramatic 91st-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at the Colorado Rapids on March 24. Came off the bench to score a late goal in a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United FC on May 9. Assisted Diego Rubio's late goal in a 4-1 win over Minnesota United FC on June 3. Scored an excellent goal in a 3-2 loss to FC Dallas on July 28, bagging the 1,000th regular-season goal in Sporting KC history. Scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory at LAFC on Aug. 11. Tallied two goals and two assists, to Felipe Gutierrez and Krisztian Nemeth, in a 5-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 15, becoming the third player in club history (Preki and Josh Wolff) to record two goals and two assists in an MLS match. Open Cup: Played seven minutes as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 fourth-round win over Real Salt Lake on June 6. Started and played 75 minutes in a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas in the Round of 16 on June 16. Started and played 71 minutes in a 4-2 quarterfinal loss at the Houston Dynamo on July 18, assisting Johnny Russell's goal in the second minute. MLS Cup Playoffs: Made two substitute appearances and scored one goal (32 minutes played). Entered as a late substitute in a 1-1 conference semifinal first-leg draw at Real Salt Lake on Nov. 4. Entered as a 65th-minute substitute in a 3-2 conference championship second-leg loss to Portland on Nov. 29, scoring a goal in the 81st minute to make the score 2-2.
2017: Was named the club's Offensive Player of the Year and won the Sporting KC Golden Boot as the team's top scorer, notching eight goals in MLS and 10 across all competitions. MLS regular season: Started 26 of 32 matches, recording eight goals and two assists (2238 minutes played). Made his MLS debut in a 0-0 draw at D.C. United on March 4. Opened his MLS scoring account with the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids on April 9. Scored the final goal in a 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake on April 29. Helped create both goals in a 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC on May 13. Scored a sensational second-half hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on May 17, becoming the first Sporting KC player to score an MLS hat-trick since October 2010. It was also the seventh MLS hat-trick in club history and the first at Children's Mercy Park. Scored Sporting's only goal in a 1-1 draw against the Montreal Impact on June 10. Scored a stunning goal in the late stages of a 2-0 win over FC Dallas on Aug. 19. Tallied the equalizing goal and game-winning assist in a 3-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Sept. 16. Open Cup: Started and played 78 minutes in a 4-0 fourth-round win over Minnesota United FC on June 14, scoring the second goal of the night before assisting Dom Dwyer's late strike. Played 90 minutes and scored a last minute goal to seal a 2-0 victory against Houston Dynamo on June 28. Started and played 85 minutes in a 3-0 quarterfinal win over FC Dallas on July 11. Started and played 77 minutes in a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes following a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra time on Aug. 9. Started and played 56 minutes in a 2-1 Open Cup Final victory over the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 20. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started and played 51 minutes in a 1-0 extra-time loss at the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Knockout Round on Oct. 26.
Fernandes, a left-footed winger, started nine of 14 Primeira Liga appearances for Belenenses, recording four assists as well as the game-winning goal against Maritimo on Dec. 10, 2016. He also contributed one assist in three domestic cup matches, featuring in the 2016-17 Taça de Portugal and the 2016-17 Taça da Liga.
Prior to joining Belenenses, Fernandes appeared more than 100 times for Estoril between 2011-2016. He helped clinch promotion to the Primera Liga in his first year with the club, playing 21 matches en route to the 2011-12 Segunda Liga title. He facilitated Estoril’s transition to the top flight over the next two seasons, recording four assists in 43 Primera Liga appearances and playing six games in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Fernandes went on loan to Moreirense for the 2014-15 campaign, netting a career-high six goals in all competitions while leading the newly promoted club to an 11th place finish in the 18-team Primeira Liga. He returned to Estoril the following year, notching two goals and four assists while starting 30 league matches during the 2015-16 season.
