Guilherme Espírito Santo

Guilherme Santa Graça do Espírito Santo (30 October 1919 – 25 November 2012), best known as Espírito Santo, was a Portuguese footballer and athlete.

Over the course of 12 seasons he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 117 games and 79 goals, spending all of his career at Benfica, winning seven major titles.

Nicknamed The Black Pearl, he was a prolific goalscorer, with Peyroteo even claiming he was a more complete footballer than him.

Career Club Born in Lisbon, of São Toméan descent, Espírito Santo moved to Luanda at the age of 8, and joined the local Benfica delegation, Sport Luanda e Benfica.

International He was the first black player to be capped for Portugal. Espírito Santo represented his country on 8 games, with his first cap arriving on 28 November 1937, in 2–1 win against Spain in Vigo. and was last capped on 21 April 1945, in an away loss against Switzerland.

Athletics Espírito Santo ventured briefly into the Track and field competitions. He was spotted when he jump 1.70 meters to go get a ball that stranded off pitch. He held the national record for High Jump for 20 years and was national champion for Long Jump and Triple Jump in 1938.

Honours Football Benfica Campeonato da Liga/Primeira Divisão: 1936–37, 1937–38, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1949–50 Taça de Portugal: 1939–40, 1943–44, 1948–49 Campeonato de Lisboa: 1939–40

Athletics Benfica Portugal High Jump Record - (1,88m) from 1940-1960 Portugal Long Jump Record - (6,89m) from 1938–1940 Portugal Triple Jump Record - (14,015m) from 1938–1940