Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by Wilson
João Klauss de Mello, commonly known simply as Klauss, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. Born on March 1, 1997, in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Klauss developed through Internacional, Juventude and Grêmio before building a professional career that has taken him through Germany, Finland, Austria, Belgium and the United States.
Family has remained important throughout that international journey. Klauss is married to a Brazilian woman from Rio Grande do Sul whose family lives in Canoas, and he has spoken openly about enjoying a quiet life at home with his wife and their dog. His parents continue to live in Brazil and supported his football ambitions from childhood. Although Klauss has discussed both his parents in interviews, their names and details about possible siblings have remained largely private.
Who Is João Klauss’s Wife?
João Klauss is married, but his wife’s name has not been reliably published by authoritative football or mainstream media sources.
Klauss himself has publicly referred to her as his wife on several occasions, making their marriage well established even though she maintains a considerably lower profile than her husband.
In an interview with Brazilian outlet ge, Klauss explained that much of his free time is spent at home with his wife and their dog. He described himself as someone who enjoys a peaceful lifestyle away from football, particularly because the extensive travel involved in Major League Soccer can be tiring.
Rather than seeking nightlife or celebrity attention, Klauss said that being around the people closest to him is what makes him happiest.
Where Is João Klauss’s Wife From?
Klauss has confirmed that his wife is gaúcha, meaning she comes from the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Her family lives in Canoas, a city in the Porto Alegre metropolitan region.
This connection means the couple divide much of their time in Brazil between different branches of the family whenever they return during the football offseason.
Klauss has explained that they normally spend vacation time between Criciúma, where his own family is based, and Canoas, where his wife’s relatives live.
Those trips are particularly important because the striker has spent most of his adult life living outside Brazil.
How Long Have João Klauss and His Wife Been Together?
The precise date when Klauss began dating his wife has not been clearly documented by reliable public sources.
Likewise, the couple have not turned their wedding into a major media event, and a verified wedding date has not been widely published.
What is clear is that she has been part of his life through his years in Major League Soccer and has shared his experience living abroad.
By 2023, Klauss was openly referring to her as his wife while discussing his personal life in the United States.
Life With His Wife in the United States
Klauss and his wife established their American life during his years with St. Louis CITY SC.
Although moving to another country can present cultural challenges, Klauss described St. Louis as a welcoming environment and gradually came to see the city as home.
A 2025 profile about his life there revealed that Klauss and his wife enjoyed simple activities such as walking their dog through local parks and discovering restaurants around the city.
Klauss also developed friendships within the Brazilian community, which helped provide a sense of familiarity thousands of miles away from his relatives.
When his career later took him from St. Louis to Los Angeles, his wife remained part of the family unit accompanying him through another major professional transition.
Does João Klauss Have Children?
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that João Klauss has children.
Interviews in which Klauss discusses his home life consistently mention his wife and their dog but do not identify a son or daughter.
Likewise, official club profiles from St. Louis CITY SC and the LA Galaxy do not refer to him as a father.
This does not necessarily provide definitive information about every aspect of his private life, but no child should be attributed to Klauss without reliable confirmation.
Who Are João Klauss’s Parents?
João Klauss’s parents are Brazilian and continue to live in Brazil.
Although Klauss has discussed both of them publicly, their first names have not been consistently established through authoritative football sources.
His parents separated when he was still young. Despite that change in family circumstances, both continued supporting his ambition to become a professional footballer.
Klauss subsequently moved with his mother to Porto Alegre, where his football development began to accelerate.
João Klauss’s Father
João Klauss’s father has remained a relatively private figure.
Reliable sources establish that his father has German ancestry, giving Klauss part of his European family heritage.
Klauss has also shared childhood memories involving his father and football.
Although he eventually became strongly associated with Grêmio, Klauss was born in Criciúma and grew up following his hometown club as well.
He has recalled that his father regularly took him to Criciúma matches when he was a child.
Those visits helped develop Klauss’s love of football well before he began his own professional career.
João Klauss Supports Both Grêmio and Criciúma
The influence of Klauss’s father can still be seen in the clubs he follows today.
Klauss describes himself as a passionate Grêmio supporter, a connection strengthened by spending several years in the club’s youth academy.
However, he also maintains strong affection for Criciúma because it is his hometown and because his father took him to matches there during his childhood.
Klauss continues following both clubs from the United States whenever his schedule allows.
João Klauss’s Mother
João Klauss’s mother has also remained outside the public spotlight.
She is of Italian descent, and this family ancestry proved important to Klauss’s professional career because it allowed him to obtain an Italian passport.
European citizenship considerably simplified his ability to pursue a football career within the European Union.
Following his parents’ separation, Klauss moved with his mother from Criciúma to Porto Alegre.
That relocation became one of the most important developments of his childhood because Porto Alegre placed him within reach of some of the strongest youth academies in southern Brazil.
Moving to Porto Alegre With His Mother
Klauss joined Internacional’s youth system at approximately nine years old.
Moving away from his birthplace while still young was a major adjustment, but it placed him in an environment where professional football became a realistic objective.
Klauss has said that he already believed strongly in the possibility of becoming a professional player during childhood.
His mother’s willingness to relocate with him provided the stability necessary for him to continue pursuing that ambition.
His father also remained supportive despite the parents living separately.
His Parents Supported His Football Dream
Klauss’s pathway was far from straightforward.
He entered Internacional’s academy as a child but was eventually released around the age of 13.
For many young players, being released by a major Brazilian club can end the dream of a professional career.
Klauss continued instead.
He moved to Juventude in Caxias do Sul before eventually returning to Porto Alegre and entering Grêmio’s academy.
The continued support of his parents helped him navigate those changes at an age when he was still dependent on his family.
João Klauss’s German and Italian Family Heritage
Klauss’s surname reflects the European roots within his Brazilian family.
His father’s side has German ancestry, while his mother’s side has Italian ancestry.
Southern Brazil, particularly the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, has large communities descended from German and Italian immigrants, and Klauss’s family background reflects that history.
His Italian ancestry later became particularly valuable professionally because Klauss qualified for an Italian passport.
When the opportunity arose to move to Germany, having European Union citizenship reduced many of the administrative barriers that Brazilian players can face when transferring to European clubs.
Does João Klauss Have Siblings?
No brothers or sisters of João Klauss have been reliably identified through authoritative public sources.
Detailed interviews about his childhood generally discuss his parents and football development without naming siblings.
This does not necessarily mean Klauss is an only child. It simply means that there is not enough trustworthy public information to identify any brothers or sisters.
For that reason, people who share either the Klauss or de Mello surname should not automatically be presented as relatives.
Klauss Left Brazil to Pursue His Career in Germany
After completing much of his development with Grêmio, Klauss faced another major decision when the opportunity arose to move abroad.
He joined the Hoffenheim organization in Germany in 2017.
The transition meant moving away from his parents and familiar surroundings in Brazil to begin an independent life in Europe.
Klauss later acknowledged that adapting to another country, language and football culture was challenging.
His family nevertheless supported the decision.
He has described leaving Brazil as taking a different path from many players around him, but he believed the German opportunity could help him reach a higher professional level.
João Klauss’s Breakthrough in Finland
Regular first-team football initially proved difficult to find in Germany.
In 2018, Hoffenheim loaned Klauss to HJK Helsinki.
The move to Finland became a major turning point.
Klauss scored 21 league goals and finished as the Veikkausliiga’s leading scorer as HJK won the Finnish championship.
He also received several individual awards, including recognition as one of the league’s outstanding players.
The season transformed him from a reserve-team prospect into a striker capable of producing consistently at senior level.
Continuing His Career in Austria
Klauss’s performances in Finland earned him another important opportunity when he joined LASK in Austria on loan.
He continued scoring regularly and also gained experience in European competition.
The Austrian period helped establish Klauss as a physically strong center-forward capable of playing in pressing systems.
He later returned to Hoffenheim and made appearances for the Bundesliga first team.
Moving to Belgium
Klauss later joined Standard Liège on loan.
His Belgian career gave him another opportunity to experience one of Europe’s respected development leagues.
He subsequently spent time with Sint-Truiden before deciding to leave European football for a completely different project in the United States.
João Klauss Became St. Louis CITY SC’s First Designated Player
St. Louis CITY SC announced Klauss as the first Designated Player in club history before beginning MLS play.
The move made him one of the central figures in an entirely new football project.
Klauss initially appeared for the organization’s MLS NEXT Pro team while preparations continued for the senior club’s inaugural season.
When St. Louis finally entered MLS in 2023, Klauss immediately became one of the league’s notable new forwards.
Family Life in St. Louis
The United States became much more than simply another temporary football destination for Klauss.
He and his wife established a settled lifestyle in St. Louis, developed friendships and spent much of their free time enjoying the city together.
Klauss has repeatedly described himself as a home-oriented person.
He enjoys spending time with his wife and their dog, watching television series and maintaining contact with relatives in Brazil.
His American experience therefore developed around both football and a stable private life.
Keeping Close to His Parents in Brazil
Despite living overseas for years, Klauss continues to prioritize seeing his parents whenever possible.
He has openly said that he wishes he could spend more time with his mother and father, who remain in Brazil.
During breaks from football, he and his wife travel back to the country and divide their time between his relatives and hers.
Klauss has also maintained a home in Brazil, giving the couple a base when they return.
Family therefore remains one of the strongest connections drawing him back to Brazil even after establishing his career abroad.
João Klauss’s Move to the LA Galaxy
Klauss began another major chapter in January 2026 when the LA Galaxy acquired him from St. Louis CITY SC.
The Galaxy paid $2.375 million in a cash-for-player trade.
Klauss joined as a Designated Player and arrived after recording 27 goals in 85 appearances for St. Louis across all competitions.
His signing added another experienced international player to a Galaxy squad containing footballers from several different countries.
A Fast Start in Los Angeles
Klauss adapted immediately to the Galaxy attack.
During the early months of the 2026 season, he scored five goals in his first eight MLS appearances.
His performances earned recognition from supporters, including consecutive LA Galaxy Player of the Month awards early in the campaign.
A two-goal performance against Charlotte FC also earned him a place on the MLS Team of the Matchday.
The fast start suggested that Klauss could become one of the Galaxy’s most important attacking players.
João Klauss’s Foot Injury
His momentum was interrupted in April 2026 when he suffered a left-foot injury against FC Dallas.
The injury required ligament-repair surgery.
The Galaxy subsequently placed Klauss on the Injured List as he began a lengthy rehabilitation process.
After several months away, the club officially activated him from the Injured List on September 11, allowing him to return for the final stretch of the regular season.
Klauss Returns to the LA Galaxy Lineup
Klauss quickly became involved again following his return.
In September 2026, he scored with a header from a Marco Reus free kick as the Galaxy completed a comeback against Minnesota United.
The goal demonstrated that the striker remained capable of playing an important role in the team after his lengthy absence.
As of now, Klauss continues his first season with the LA Galaxy while maintaining the quiet family life that has characterized much of his time away from football.
Frequently Asked Questions About João Klauss’s Family
Who is João Klauss’s wife?
João Klauss is married, but his wife’s name has not been reliably published by authoritative football or mainstream media sources.
Where is João Klauss’s wife from?
Klauss has said his wife is from Rio Grande do Sul and that her family lives in Canoas, near Porto Alegre.
Does João Klauss have children?
As of now, no children have been reliably confirmed through authoritative public sources.
Does João Klauss have a dog?
Yes. Klauss has publicly mentioned living with his wife and their dog and has described spending much of his free time with them.
Who is João Klauss’s father?
Klauss’s father has remained private, and his first name has not been reliably established through strong public sources. He is of German ancestry and supported João’s interest in football from childhood.
Who is João Klauss’s mother?
Klauss’s mother has also remained private. She is of Italian ancestry and moved with João to Porto Alegre after his parents separated.
Are João Klauss’s parents still alive?
Klauss has publicly spoken about visiting both his mother and father in Brazil, including in interviews during his MLS career.
Did João Klauss’s parents separate?
Yes. Biographical reporting about his childhood states that his parents separated while he was young and that Klauss subsequently moved with his mother to Porto Alegre.
Does João Klauss have siblings?
No brothers or sisters have been reliably identified through authoritative public sources. This does not necessarily mean he is an only child.
Is João Klauss German?
Klauss is Brazilian by birth and also holds Italian citizenship. He has German ancestry through his father.
Why does João Klauss have an Italian passport?
His mother’s family has Italian ancestry, which allowed Klauss to obtain Italian citizenship and an Italian passport.
Where does João Klauss’s family live?
His parents live in Brazil. His wife’s family is based in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul.
Where was João Klauss born?
Klauss was born in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, on March 1, 1997.
Who does João Klauss play for?
As of now, Klauss plays as a striker for the LA Galaxy after joining the club from St. Louis CITY SC in January 2026.
Wilson Gaspar is a football analyst covering the UEFA Champions League, focusing on match previews, tactical reviews, and the performance of Europe’s top clubs throughout the competition.
