Cao (footballer, born 1968)

Cao

Personal information
Full name	Carlos Alberto Correia Fortes
Date of birth	(1968-10-20) 20 October 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Praia, Cape Verde
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1988–1990	Porto
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990–1991	Porto	0	(0)
1991–1992	Rio Ave	22	(0)
1992–1993	Tirsense	2	(0)
1993–1997	Leça	114	(7)
1997–1999	Salgueiros	59	(1)
1999–2002	Campomaiorense	59	(2)
2002–2003	Felgueiras	28	(1)
2004–2005	Leça
2005–2006	Rio Tinto
2008–2009	Salgueiros 08	9	(0)
Total		293	(11)
International career
1990–1991	Portugal U20	6	(0)
1992	Portugal U21	3	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Portugal FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner 1991 Portugal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Carlos Alberto Correia Fortes (born 20 October 1968), commonly known as Cao, is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Cao was born in Praia, Cape Verde. After unsuccessfully emerging through FC Porto's youth academy, he went on to play 12 seasons in the two major levels of Portuguese football, representing Rio Ave FC (Segunda Liga), F.C. Tirsense (Primeira Liga), Leça FC (first and second tiers), S.C. Salgueiros (both), S.C. Campomaiorense (both) and F.C. Felgueiras (second). ^[1]

Cao retired from professional football in 2003 with totals of 284 matches and 11 goals, going on to spend the rest of his career in amateur football, which included a third spell with Leça. Subsequently, he worked as a graphic designer. ^[2]

International career

Cao was part of the Portugal under-20 team that won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship, with the competition being held on home soil. In 2002, it was revealed that he had in fact been born in 1968, meaning he was crowned champion at the age of 22. ^{[3] [1] [2]}

References

1. Castro Martins, Luís (30 June 2016). "25 anos de Lisboa'91: tomates argentinos e a Luz que "arrepiava"" [25th anniversary of Lisbon'91: Argentine tomatoes and a Luz that "gave chills"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
2. "Quando a data de nascimento causa polémica" [When birthdate creates controversy]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 16 September 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
3. Ribeiro, Ireneu (20 August 2011). "Geração de ouro faz 20 anos" [Golden generation celebrates 20th birthday]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 August 2016.

External links

• Cao at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Cao national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
• Cao – FIFA competition record (archived)