His nickname derives from the fact that, as a child, he suffered slight accidental burns, being then known as "Mantorras" from the Angolan expression "Mano Torras," which means "toasted brother".[1] His professional career, mainly spent with Benfica, was blighted by constant injury problems which cause him to retire at just 30 years old.[2][3]
At 19, Mantorras signed with Benfica, making a particularly good impression during his first season and being subsequently sought out by FC Barcelona and Inter Milan. During his quick rise to stardom, he was frequently described as the best player to come out of Portuguese Africa since Eusébio left Mozambique for Benfica in the early 1960s; the latter himself said of the former: "He has special qualities and is set for a great future".[4][5]
In 2002, Mantorras suffered a serious knee injury that almost put an end to his short career.[6][7] He spent approximately two-and-a-half years recovering, during which he was subject to four surgical procedures.[2] He returned to the pitch during the 2004–05 campaign, and managed to contribute sufficiently as Benfica ended an 11-year drought and won the national championship, with five goals in only 15 matches (four of those in the final two months).[8][9]
Even though he was subsequently deemed to be fully recovered, Mantorras failed to re-establish himself as a first-team player, playing only in a few games throughout the next seasons combined. However, he remained a fan favourite, additionally stating he would like to see out his career at the club and that he would remain there even if he was not paid a salary.[10]
Benfica won the league again in 2009–10, as well as the domestic league cup, also reaching the last eight in the UEFA Europa League, but Mantorras' output consisted of ten minutes during the pre-season, in a 2–1 loss against Atlético Madrid; in mid-February 2011, one month shy of his 29th birthday, he announced his retirement from professional football, making a short and unsuccessful comeback with C.D. Primeiro de Agosto later on.[11]
A full international since the age of 19, Mantorras was part of the national team which became the first ever African Portuguese-speaking country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, in 2006. There, he played twice from the bench, including in the 0–1 group stage loss against Portugal.[17]
Even though he was only fifth or sixth-choice at Benfica at the time, Mantorras was also summoned for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, played on home soil. As Angola reached the last-eight he only appeared once, again as a substitute, in a 2–0 win over Malawi.[18]
Personal life
Soon after joining Benfica, Mantorras promised to donate a large percentage of his wages to set up a home for street children in Luanda. He related their plight to his own experiences: "My father died when I was three months old and my mother when I was 16. I had a brother to look after and became the head of the family [when I was] very young. I had a lot of difficulties early in my life. Now that my fortunes have improved, I'm going to do what I can to help the underprivileged".[19][20]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[21][22]
↑ "Mantorras joga Paintball"[Mantorras plays Paintball] (in Portuguese). Histórias Tolas. 28 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
↑ "Mantorras". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
↑ "Mantorras". National Football Teams. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
Further reading
Gabriel Quaresma, José (July 2007). Mantorras, livro directo[Mantorras, direct book (pun on "livre directo", which means "direct free kick" in Portuguese] (Firsted.). PrimeBooks. ISBN978-989-8028-42-6.
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