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Mica Pinto

{{short description|Luxembourgish footballer (born 1993)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Portuguese name|Gonçalves|Pinto}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mica Pinto

| image = Mica Pinto in CSKA.jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Pinto with CSKA Sofia in 2025

| fullname = Michael Gonçalves Pinto{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/mica-pinto/belenenses/1588-0-19211|title=Mica Pinto|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=Portuguese|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704082638/https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/mica-pinto/belenenses/1588-0-19211|archive-date=4 July 2024}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|6|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Diekirch, Luxembourg

| height = {{convert|1.76|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Left-back

| currentclub = CSKA Sofia

| clubnumber = 18

| youthyears1 = 2004–2005 | youthclubs1 = Young Boys Diekirch

| youthyears2 = 2005–2007 | youthclubs2 = Metz

| youthyears3 = 2007–2012 | youthclubs3 = Sporting CP

| years1 = 2012–2015 | clubs1 = Sporting CP B | caps1 = 85 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2015 | clubs2 = Recreativo | caps2 = 15 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2016 | clubs3 = Sporting CP B | caps3 = 5 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2016–2018 | clubs4 = Belenenses | caps4 = 6 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2017 | clubs5 = → União Madeira (loan) | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2018–2019 | clubs6 = Fortuna Sittard | caps6 = 49 | goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2020–2023 | clubs7 = Sparta Rotterdam | caps7 = 85 | goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2023–2024 | clubs8 = Vitesse | caps8 = 23 | goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2024– | clubs9 = CSKA Sofia | caps9 = 21 | goals9 = 1

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| nationalyears1 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam1 = Portugal U18 | nationalcaps1 = 9 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 2012–2013 | nationalteam2 = Portugal U20 | nationalcaps2 = 15 | nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2020– | nationalteam3 = Luxembourg | nationalcaps3 = 40 | nationalgoals3 = 1

| club-update = 18:30, 9 May 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 16:44, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

}}

Michael "Mica" Gonçalves Pinto (born 4 June 1993) is a Luxembourgish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for First Professional Football League club CSKA Sofia and the Luxembourg national team.

He spent the early part of his career in the Segunda Liga, mainly with Sporting CP B. He totalled 102 matches in the competition over five seasons, adding six appearances in the Primeira Liga for Belenenses. He then played six years in the Dutch Eredivisie and one in the country's Eerste Divisie, representing Fortuna Sittard, Sparta Rotterdam and Vitesse.

Pinto represented Portugal at youth level, before switching to Luxembourg in 2020.

Club career

Born in Diekirch, Luxembourg of Portuguese descent, Pinto joined Sporting CP's youth academy at the age of 14.{{cite web|url=https://bomdia.eu/mica-pinto-pode-vir-a-representar-o-luxemburgo/|title=Mica Pinto pode vir a representar o Luxemburgo|trans-title=Mica Pinto may represent Luxembourg|publisher=Bom Dia|language=Portuguese|date=10 September 2015|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224234938/https://bomdia.eu/mica-pinto-pode-vir-a-representar-o-luxemburgo/|archive-date=24 February 2021}} He spent three full seasons with the reserve team in the Segunda Liga, making his debut in the competition on 11 August 2012 in a 1–0 away loss against U.D. Oliveirense{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/detalhe/oliveirense-sporting-b-1-0-golo-de-barry-derrota-jovens-leoes-772820|title=Oliveirense-Sporting B, 1–0: Golo de Barry derrota jovens leões|trans-title=Oliveirense-Sporting B, 1–0: Barry goal defeats young lions|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=11 August 2012|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127131622/http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/detalhe/oliveirense-sporting-b-1-0-golo-de-barry-derrota-jovens-leoes-772820.html|archive-date=27 January 2020}} and scoring his first goal on 24 February 2013 to help the hosts defeat S.C. Freamunde 5–1.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/detalhe/sporting-b-freamunde-5-1-leoes-regressam-aos-triunfos-806440|title=Sporting B-Freamunde, 5–1: Leões regressam aos triunfos|trans-title=Sporting B-Freamunde, 5–1: Lions return to wins|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=24 February 2013|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704082608/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/detalhe/sporting-b-freamunde-5-1-leoes-regressam-aos-triunfos-806440|archive-date=4 July 2024}}

On 15 August 2015, Pinto was loaned to Spanish Segunda División B club Recreativo de Huelva alongside his teammates Kikas and Luís Ribeiro, with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=https://www.huelvahoy.com/el-sporting-luso-tambien-cede-al-lateral-zurdo-mica-pinto/|title=El Sporting luso también cede al lateral zurdo Mica Pinto|trans-title=Portugal's Sporting also loan left back Mica Pinto|publisher=Huelva Hoy|first=José Carlos|last=Galván|language=Spanish|date=15 August 2015|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704082644/https://www.huelvahoy.com/articulo/recreativo-de-huelva/el-sporting-luso-tambien-cede-al-lateral-zurdo-mica-pinto/20150815162815169993.html|archive-date=4 July 2024}} The following January, he terminated his contract alleging unpaid wages.{{cite web|url=https://es.besoccer.com/noticia/mica-pinto-se-marcha-del-recreativo-tras-tres-meses-sin-cobrar|title='Mica' Pinto se marcha del Recreativo tras tres meses sin cobrar|trans-title='Mica' Pinto leaves Recreativo after three months without getting paid|publisher=Be Soccer|language=Spanish|date=8 January 2016|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608201635/https://es.besoccer.com/noticia/mica-pinto-se-marcha-del-recreativo-tras-tres-meses-sin-cobrar|archive-date=8 June 2021}}

Pinto signed a permanent deal with C.F. Os Belenenses on 27 May 2016, with Sporting retaining 50% of his rights.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sporting/detalhe/mica-pinto-reforca-o-belenenses|title=Mica Pinto reforça o Belenenses|trans-title=Mica Pinto bolsters Belenenses|newspaper=Record|first=Luís|last=Miroto Simões|language=Portuguese|date=27 May 2016|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226092543/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sporting/detalhe/mica-pinto-reforca-o-belenenses|archive-date=26 February 2021}} He played his first match in the Primeira Liga on 19 August, coming on as a last-minute substitute in the 0–0 home draw with Boavista FC.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/19-08-2016/belenenses-boavista-0-0-cronica|title=Belenenses-Boavista, 0–0 (crónica)|trans-title=Belenenses-Boavista, 0–0 (report)|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=David|last=Marques|language=Portuguese|date=19 August 2016|accessdate=9 February 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209185410/https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/19-08-2016/belenenses-boavista-0-0-cronica|archive-date=9 February 2022}} Ahead of the 2017–18 campaign, he was loaned to C.F. União of the second tier.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/uniao-madeira/belenenses-mica-pinto-emprestado-ao-uniao-da-madeira|title=Belenenses: Mica Pinto emprestado ao União da Madeira|trans-title=Belenenses: Mica Pinto loaned to União da Madeira|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=Portuguese|date=18 August 2017|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608201637/https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/uniao-madeira/belenenses-mica-pinto-emprestado-ao-uniao-da-madeira|archive-date=8 June 2021}}

In the January 2018 transfer window, Pinto agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract at Fortuna Sittard of the Dutch Eerste Divisie.{{cite web|url=https://www.1limburg.nl/portugese-jeugdinternational-verkast-naar-fortuna|title=Portugese jeugdinternational verkast naar Fortuna|trans-title=Portuguese youth international switches to Fortuna|publisher=1Limburg|language=Dutch|date=16 January 2018|accessdate=7 March 2020}} He contributed one goal{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/1863432/fortuna-sittard-stap-dichter-bij-eredivisie|title=Fortuna Sittard stap dichter bij Eredivisie|trans-title=Fortuna Sittard move closer to Eredivisie|newspaper=De Telegraaf|language=Dutch|date=2 April 2018|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608201636/https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/1863432/fortuna-sittard-stap-dichter-bij-eredivisie|archive-date=8 June 2021}} from 14 appearances until the end of the season, as his side returned to the Eredivisie after a 16-year absence.{{cite news|url=https://sittard-geleen.nieuws.nl/sport/20180814/fc-emmen-de-graafschap-en-fortuna-sittard-eredivisie/|title=FC Emmen, De Graafschap en Fortuna Sittard in de Eredivisie|trans-title=FC Emmen, De Graafschap and Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie|newspaper=Sittard-Geleen Nieuws|language=Dutch|date=14 August 2018|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608201637/https://sittard-geleen.nieuws.nl/sport/20180814/fc-emmen-de-graafschap-en-fortuna-sittard-eredivisie/|archive-date=8 June 2021}}

Pinto made his debut in the Dutch top flight on 11 August 2018, playing the entire 1–1 away draw against Excelsior Rotterdam.{{cite news|url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/smeets-en-var-helpen-fortuna-aan-puntje-bij-rentree~a702e6b1/|title=Smeets en VAR helpen Fortuna aan puntje bij rentree|trans-title=Smeets and VAR help Fortuna in their return|newspaper=Algemeen Dagblad|first=Tim|last=Niemandsverdriet|language=Dutch|date=11 August 2018|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024111331/https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/smeets-en-var-helpen-fortuna-aan-puntje-bij-rentree~a702e6b1/|archive-date=24 October 2020}} On 30 December 2019, Sparta Rotterdam announced that he would be joining the club the following month, and he eventually signed a contract until June 2021 with the option of one more year.{{cite web|url=https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/mica-pinto-tekent-contract-tot-medio-2021-sparta/|title=Mica Pinto tekent contract tot medio 2021 bij Sparta|trans-title=Mica Pinto signs contract at Sparta until 2021|publisher=Sparta Rotterdam|language=Dutch|date=30 December 2019|accessdate=30 December 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230161458/https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/mica-pinto-tekent-contract-tot-medio-2021-sparta/|archive-date=30 December 2019}}

Pinto spent the 2023–24 campaign with SBV Vitesse, leaving by mutual consent at its conclusion.{{cite web|url=https://www.vitesse.nl/nieuws/2024/mica-pinto-31-vertrekt-bij-vitesse|title=Mica Pinto (31) vertrekt bij Vitesse|trans-title=Mica Pinto (31) leaves Vitesse|publisher=SBV Vitesse|language=Dutch|date=26 August 2024|accessdate=26 August 2024}} In August 2024, he signed for Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia.{{cite web|url=https://btvsport.bg/bgfootball/cska-privleche-levija-zashtitnik-na-ljuksemburg.html|title=ЦСКА подписва с левия защитник на Люксембург|trans-title=CSKA sign Luxembourgeois left-back|publisher=bTV|language=Bulgarian|date=30 August 2024|accessdate=17 October 2024}}

International career

Also eligible to represent Luxembourg, Pinto appeared for Portugal at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Turkey.{{cite news|url=https://observador.pt/2017/05/20/portugal-no-mundial-sub-20-quem-quando-e-onde-um-guia-para-a-competicao/|title=Portugal no Mundial Sub-20: quem, quando e onde? Um guia para a competição|trans-title=Portugal at the Under-20 World Cup: who, when and where? A guide for the competition|newspaper=Observador|first=Bruno|last=Roseiro|language=Portuguese|date=20 May 2017|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126124559/https://observador.pt/2017/05/20/portugal-no-mundial-sub-20-quem-quando-e-onde-um-guia-para-a-competicao/|archive-date=26 January 2021}} He started all four games during the tournament, which ended in round-of-16 exit.{{cite web|url=http://relvado.aeiou.pt/seleccao/portugal-gana-equipas-iniciais-463801|title=Portugal fora do Mundial sub-20|trans-title=Portugal out of the under-20 World Cup|publisher=Relvado|first=Luís Miguel|last=Nunes|language=Portuguese|date=3 July 2013|accessdate=7 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127031132/http://relvado.aeiou.pt/seleccao/portugal-gana-equipas-iniciais-463801|archive-date=27 November 2022}}

Pinto made his full debut for Luxembourg in a friendly against Liechtenstein on 7 October 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.wort.lu/fr/sport/le-luxembourg-surpris-a-domicile-5f7eda17de135b92367a9e9a|title=Le Luxembourg surpris à domicile|trans-title=Luxembourg surprised at home|newspaper=Luxemburger Wort|language=French|date=8 October 2020|accessdate=20 October 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019135326/https://www.wort.lu/fr/sport/le-luxembourg-surpris-a-domicile-5f7eda17de135b92367a9e9a|archive-date=19 October 2020}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 22 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|michael--goncalves-pinto/217925}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup

!colspan="2"|League cup

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="4"|Sporting CP B

|2012–13

|Segunda Liga

|35

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—351
2013–14

|Segunda Liga

|12

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—120
2014–15

|Segunda Liga

|37

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—370
colspan="2"|Total

!84

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—841
Recreativo

|2015–16

|Segunda División B

|15

010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—160
Sporting CP B

|2015–16

|Segunda Liga

|5

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—50
Belenenses

|2016–17

|Primeira Liga

|6

00020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—80
União Madeira (loan)

|2017–18

|LigaPro

|12

03010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—160
rowspan="4"|Fortuna Sittard

|2017–18

|Eerste Divisie

|14

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—141
2018–19

|Eredivisie

|28

010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—290
2019–20

|Eredivisie

|7

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—70
colspan="2"|Total

!49

110colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—501
rowspan="5"|Sparta Rotterdam

|2019–20

|Eredivisie

|3

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—30
2020–21

|Eredivisie

|25

110colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—261
2021–22

|Eredivisie

|24

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—260
2022–23

|Eredivisie

|32

310colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—333
colspan="2"|Total

!84

440colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—884
Vitesse

|2023–24

|Eredivisie

|23

130colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—261
CSKA Sofia

|2024–25

|First League

|21

150colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—261
colspan="3" |Career total

!299

81803000003208

{{notelist}}

=International=

{{updated|match played 10 June 2025}}

class=wikitable style=text-align:center

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="6"|Luxembourg{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31068|title=Mica Pinto|publisher=European Football|accessdate=12 October 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103202259/https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31068|archive-date=3 January 2022}}

|2020

50
2021111
2022100
202350
202470
202520
colspan=2|Total||40||1

=International goals=

:Scores and results list Luxembourg's goal tally first.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"

! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

1.1 September 2021Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg{{fb|AZE}}align=center | 1–0align=center | 2–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Individual

  • Eredivisie Team of the Month: October 2022,{{cite web|url=https://eredivisie.eu/news/cody-gakpo-is-the-eredivisie-player-of-the-month-for-the-second-month-running/|title=Cody Gakpo is the Eredivisie Player of the Month for the second month running|publisher=Eredivisie|date=4 November 2022|accessdate=26 December 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027011555/https://eredivisie.eu/news/cody-gakpo-is-the-eredivisie-player-of-the-month-for-the-second-month-running/|archive-date=27 October 2023}} March 2023,{{cite web|url=https://eredivisie.nl/nieuws/sparta-en-az-domineren-eredivisie-elftal-van-de-maand-in-maart/|title=Sparta en AZ domineren Eredivisie Elftal van de Maand in Maart|trans-title=Sparta and AZ dominate Eredivisie team of the month in March|publisher=Eredivisie|language=Dutch|date=31 March 2023|accessdate=26 December 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205211311/https://eredivisie.nl/nieuws/sparta-en-az-domineren-eredivisie-elftal-van-de-maand-in-maart/|archive-date=5 December 2023}} April 2023{{cite web|url=https://eredivisie.eu/news/eight-clubs-represent-the-eredivisie-team-of-the-month-for-april/|title=Eight clubs represent the Eredivisie Team of the Month for April|publisher=Eredivisie|date=5 May 2023|accessdate=4 June 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601204520/https://eredivisie.eu/news/eight-clubs-represent-the-eredivisie-team-of-the-month-for-april/|archivedate=1 June 2023}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{ForaDeJogo}}
  • {{FPF national player|686000}}
  • {{NFT|79639}}
  • {{FIFA player|368645}}

{{PFC CSKA Sofia squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinto, Mica}}

Category:1993 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Diekirch

Category:Luxembourgian people of Portuguese descent

Category:Sportspeople from Diekirch (canton)

Category:21st-century Portuguese sportsmen

Category:21st-century Luxembourgian sportsmen

Category:Portuguese men's footballers

Category:Luxembourgian men's footballers

Category:Men's association football fullbacks

Category:Primeira Liga players

Category:Liga Portugal 2 players

Category:Sporting CP B players

Category:C.F. Os Belenenses players

Category:C.F. União players

Category:Segunda División B players

Category:Recreativo de Huelva players

Category:Eredivisie players

Category:Eerste Divisie players

Category:Fortuna Sittard players

Category:Sparta Rotterdam players

Category:SBV Vitesse players

Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players

Category:PFC CSKA Sofia players

Category:Portugal men's youth international footballers

Category:Luxembourg men's international footballers

Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers

Category:Luxembourgian expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Bulgaria

Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in France

Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Spain

Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands

Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Bulgaria

Category:Luxembourgian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands