Diego Martins
Encyclopedia
Diego José Martins is a Brazil
ian footballer. He currently plays for the Charlotte Eagles
in the USL Professional Division.
, where he played as an amateur for the Gama Júniors. Martins lead his club to three amateur Brasília state championships, scoring 18 goals, before being called up to the senior Gama
team in 2003, at age 17.
, and was the team MVP in 2004; his performances with the team led to him signing with Capital FC in 2005. While playing for Capital, Martins scored a famous goal known as the "goal Pelé couldn't score", looping a shot over the opposition goalkeeper from 50 yards out.
Martins transferred to Anapolina
of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
in 2006, where he was nominated Player of the Week three times, and was the team's end-of-season MVP. His play with Anápolis caught the eye of Portuguese scouts, leading to him moving to Aves in the Portuguese Liga
in 2007. After spending two years rubbing shoulders with teams such as Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto, Martins took an opportunity to move to the United States, and signed with the Charlotte Eagles
of the USL Second Division
in early 2009.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer. He currently plays for the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USL Professional Division.
Early career
Martins grew up playing in the youth system for GamaSociedade Esportiva do Gama
Gama is a Brazilian football team from Gama in Distrito Federal, founded on November 15, 1975.Gama greatest rival is Brasiliense.Their home stadium is the Bezerrão stadium, capacity 25,000. They play in green shirts, white shorts and green socks....
, where he played as an amateur for the Gama Júniors. Martins lead his club to three amateur Brasília state championships, scoring 18 goals, before being called up to the senior Gama
Sociedade Esportiva do Gama
Gama is a Brazilian football team from Gama in Distrito Federal, founded on November 15, 1975.Gama greatest rival is Brasiliense.Their home stadium is the Bezerrão stadium, capacity 25,000. They play in green shirts, white shorts and green socks....
team in 2003, at age 17.
Professional
Martins won two professional Brasília state championships and a Brazilian Serie C National Championship with GamaSociedade Esportiva do Gama
Gama is a Brazilian football team from Gama in Distrito Federal, founded on November 15, 1975.Gama greatest rival is Brasiliense.Their home stadium is the Bezerrão stadium, capacity 25,000. They play in green shirts, white shorts and green socks....
, and was the team MVP in 2004; his performances with the team led to him signing with Capital FC in 2005. While playing for Capital, Martins scored a famous goal known as the "goal Pelé couldn't score", looping a shot over the opposition goalkeeper from 50 yards out.
Martins transferred to Anapolina
Associação Atlética Anapolina
Associação Atlética Anapolina, or Anapolina as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Anápolis in Goiás, founded on January 1, 1948.Anapolina greatest rival is Anápolis....
of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
The Série B is the second division of Brazilian football. It is played by 20 teams. However, the competition format has changed almost every year since it first occurred, in 1971. In some years, it was not played altogether...
in 2006, where he was nominated Player of the Week three times, and was the team's end-of-season MVP. His play with Anápolis caught the eye of Portuguese scouts, leading to him moving to Aves in the Portuguese Liga
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
in 2007. After spending two years rubbing shoulders with teams such as Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto, Martins took an opportunity to move to the United States, and signed with the Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
in early 2009.