Pedro Barbosa

Pedro Alexandre dos Santos Barbosa (born 6 August 1970; ) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Best known for his spell at Sporting CP, he appeared in 367 matches in the Primeira Liga and scored 61 goals, being a player with above-average skills.

Barbosa represented Portugal at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 1996.

Club career Born in Gondomar, Porto District, Barbosa unsuccessfully graduated from FC Porto's academy, making his professional debut with lowly S.C. Freamunde in the Segunda Liga.

He first came to prominence at Vitória de Guimarães, making his Primeira Liga debut at age 21, and joined Sporting CP in 1995–96, remaining at the club for the next ten seasons. Already a veteran, he contributed heavily to the Lisbon team's 2000 and 2002 league titles, appearing in respectively 31 (two goals scored) and 27 matches (three).

In the 2003–04 campaign, Barbosa netted a career-best nine goals to help his side to finish third. In the following, the 34-year-old played 13 matches as the Lions reached the UEFA Cup final on home soil, scoring all of his two goals against Middlesbrough in the round of 16. Barbosa subsequently became its director of football. He left the post in early November 2009, after coach Paulo Bento's resignation.

International career Barbosa won 22 caps for the Portugal national team and scored five goals over ten years. He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 1996 (playing the last 30 minutes of the 3–0 group stage win against Croatia) and the 2002 FIFA World Cup (no appearances).

Career statistics

Honours Sporting CP Primeira Liga: 1999–2000, 2001–02

Individual Primeira Liga Player of the Month: November 2003