João Morais

João Pedro Morais (6 March 1935 – 27 April 2010) was a Portuguese footballer. He started playing as a winger and later became a full-back.

Club career Born in Cascais, Morais joined Sporting CP in 1958, arriving from S.C.U. Torreense where he had made his Primeira Liga debut. He spent the following 11 seasons with the Lisbon club, appearing in 256 matches in all competitions – including friendlies – and scoring 68 goals.

Morais was essential as Sporting won the 1964 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: in the final's replay (3–3 in the first match), he scored from a direct corner kick in a 1–0 win against MTK Budapest FC.

Morais left the Lions in June 1969, having won four titles. He retired at the age of 38, after three years in amateur football with Rio Ave F.C. and F.C. Paços de Ferreira.

International career Morais earned nine caps for Portugal in one year. His debut was on 18 June 1966 in a 1–0 friendly victory over Scotland, in Glasgow.

Morais was selected for the country's 1966 FIFA World Cup squad, appearing in three games in a third-place finish. In the last group-stage fixture against Brazil, he committed one of the most infamous World Cup fouls on Brazilian legend Pelé; however, he was allowed to stay on the field by English referee George McCabe.

Later life and death Morais settled in Vila do Conde, the city of his penultimate club, after retiring, going on to work as a city hall employee. He died on 27 April 2010 at 75 after a long battle with illness.

Honours Sporting CP Primeira Liga: 1961–62, 1965–66 Taça de Portugal: 1962–63 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1963–64

Portugal FIFA World Cup third place: 1966