Matateu
Encyclopedia
Sebastião Lucas da Fonseca (July 26, 1927 in Lourenço Marques, Portuguese East Africa
, now Maputo
, Mozambique
– January 27, 2000 in Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
), known as Matateu (mɐtɐˈtew) was the first great Mozambican-born Portuguese footballer, before the arrival of Eusébio. Like him, he was a top scorer, both for Belenenses and the National Team. In matter of longevity he can be considered the Portuguese Stanley Matthews
, because he played until 50.
He started is career in Mozambique, where he played in local teams, João Albasini, 1 º de Maio and Manjacaze. He was discovered by a former Belenenses player, signing for his team, in 1951. He played for Belenenses, the third best team of Lisbon
, after Benfica and Sporting, from 1951/52 to 1963/64, being twice the top scorer of the I Division. He had 27 caps and scored 13 goals for Portugal, from 1952–60. His last game was at the Euro 1960 quarter-finals with Yugoslavia when he was 32. Portugal won 2–1 at home, but was defeated 5–1 abroad.
He left Belenenses at a very difficult time of his career, and signed for Atlético
of Lisbon, then a II Division team, in December 1964. He helped to return that team to I Division the following season. He left Atlético to Gouveia
, in 1967/68, moving to Amora
, in 1968/69 when he was 41. With Amora he was district champion and helped the team to reach the III Division. In 1970/71 he moved to Canada
were he played for the First Portuguese until 1977/78, when he turned 50. He then finished his long playing career.
He remains the best player ever to represent both Belenenses and Portugal National Team
. He never played there with his countryman Eusébio, who only debuted the year after Matateu’s last game.
Portuguese East Africa
Mozambique or Portuguese East Africa was the common name by which the Portuguese Empire's territorial expansion in East Africa was known across different periods of time...
, now Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
– January 27, 2000 in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
), known as Matateu (mɐtɐˈtew) was the first great Mozambican-born Portuguese footballer, before the arrival of Eusébio. Like him, he was a top scorer, both for Belenenses and the National Team. In matter of longevity he can be considered the Portuguese Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
, because he played until 50.
He started is career in Mozambique, where he played in local teams, João Albasini, 1 º de Maio and Manjacaze. He was discovered by a former Belenenses player, signing for his team, in 1951. He played for Belenenses, the third best team of Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, after Benfica and Sporting, from 1951/52 to 1963/64, being twice the top scorer of the I Division. He had 27 caps and scored 13 goals for Portugal, from 1952–60. His last game was at the Euro 1960 quarter-finals with Yugoslavia when he was 32. Portugal won 2–1 at home, but was defeated 5–1 abroad.
He left Belenenses at a very difficult time of his career, and signed for Atlético
Atlético
Atlético may refer to:* Alagoinhas Atlético Clube, a Brazilian football club* Alianza Atlético, a Peruvian football club* A. M. S. y D...
of Lisbon, then a II Division team, in December 1964. He helped to return that team to I Division the following season. He left Atlético to Gouveia
Gouveia
Gouveia is a city and a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 300.6 km² and a total population of 15,792 inhabitants. The city itself has a population of 3,759....
, in 1967/68, moving to Amora
Amora
Amoraim , were renowned Jewish scholars who "said" or "told over" the teachings of the Oral law, from about 200 to 500 CE in Babylonia and the Land of Israel. Their legal discussions and debates were eventually codified in the Gemara...
, in 1968/69 when he was 41. With Amora he was district champion and helped the team to reach the III Division. In 1970/71 he moved to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
were he played for the First Portuguese until 1977/78, when he turned 50. He then finished his long playing career.
He remains the best player ever to represent both Belenenses and Portugal National Team
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. He never played there with his countryman Eusébio, who only debuted the year after Matateu’s last game.