Matateu

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 (Portuguese pronunciation: [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.

External links

• Matateu Tribute Page in Amora F.C. (Portuguese)
• Matateu Tribute Page at the Belenenses Official Site (Portuguese)
• Profile at Fora de Jogo