Daniel Cardoso

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Daniel Cardoso

| image =

| fullname = Daniel Antonio Cardoso

| height = 1.84 m

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1988|10|06}}

| birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa

| currentclub = Sekhukhune United

| clubnumber = 4

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Sporting FC

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Supersport United

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Robertsham Callies

| youthyears4 =

| youthclubs4 = Wits University

| youthyears5 =

| youthclubs5 = Jomo Cosmos

| youthyears6 =

| youthclubs6 = Yebo Yes United

| youthyears7 =

| youthclubs7 = Lusitano

| collegeyears1 =

| college1 = University of Pretoria

| collegeyears2 =

| college2 = Wits University

| youthyears8 = 2011–2012

| youthclubs8 = Highlands Park

| years1 = 2012–2015

| clubs1 = Free State Stars

| caps1 = 57

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2015–2022

| clubs2 = Kaizer Chiefs

| caps2 = 185

| goals2 = 12

| years3 = 2022–

| clubs3 = Sekhukhune United

| caps3 = 57

| goals3 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2015–2019

| nationalteam1 = South Africa

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 15 June 2024

| nationalteam-update = 30 October 2022

}}

Daniel Antonio Cardoso (born 6 October 1989) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for Sekhukhune United in the Premier Soccer League.{{Soccerway|daniel-cardoso/254047}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/south-africa/mtn8/players/2012/free-state-stars/daniel-cardoso.html |title=MTN Football Page has moved |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070851/http://mtnfootball.com/africa/south-africa/mtn8/players/2012/free-state-stars/daniel-cardoso.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Early life

Cardoso was born in Johannesburg. His father grew up in Portugal, while his mother is a native South African.{{cite web|url=http://www.diskifans.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi|title=Sorry! website unavailable|website=diskifans.com|access-date=11 February 2019|archive-date=30 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630011021/http://www.diskifans.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi|url-status=dead}} Cardoso aspired to be a veterinarian, but dropped out of school in 2003 to pursue his soccer career. Despite earning R100,000 a month, he still advises people to embrace education.{{cite web|url=http://freestatestars.co.za/know-your-stars-daniel-cardoso/|title=Know your Stars: Daniel Cardoso – Freestatestars|website=freestatestars.co.za}}

Club career

Cardoso made his professional debut for the Free State Stars on 11 August 2012 in a 2–0 holme win over the Bidvest Wits.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/29809/bidvest-wits-lost-2-0-away-to-free-state-stars|title=Bidvest Wits lost 2–0 away to Free State Stars|last=www.realnet.co.uk|website=Kick Off|date=11 August 2012}} Cardoso was made vice-captain in 2014. In July 2014, Cardoso suffered a shin injury which ruled him out for five months.{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/teams/free-state-stars/fss-defender-daniel-cardoso-ruled-out-until-august/168491|title=FSS Defender, Daniel Cardoso, Ruled Out Until August|website=South African soccer news|date=8 July 2014}} Cardoso joined the Kaizer Chiefs on 31 May 2015. After spending 7 years with the Chiefs, Cardoso left on 1 June 2022 and became a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/german-bundesliga/daniel-cardoso-has-completed-his-move-to-kaizer-chiefs/210942|title=Daniel Cardoso Has Completed His Move To Kaizer Chiefs|website=South African soccer news|date=31 May 2015}}