Rúben Micael

Porto In mid-January 2010, FC Porto purchased 60% of Micael's playing rights for a €3 million transfer fee, signing him to a four-and-a-half-year deal and setting his release clause at €30 million. His first league game for his new club came on 30 January, where he started in the place of the suspended Raul Meireles in a 4–0 away defeat of his former team, Nacional.

In 2010–11, Micael was used sparingly by new manager André Villas-Boas. Nonetheless, he still appeared in 36 official matches and totalled 871 minutes of action (four goals, three in the Europa League campaign) as the team won the treble.

Atlético Madrid

On 18 August 2011, Micael and Porto teammate Radamel Falcao were both purchased by Atlético Madrid for – the former for , although Porto later confirmed that his sale did not generate any revenue for the club. The midfielder was then immediately loaned to fellow La Liga side Real Zaragoza, for a fee of €750,000. 23 of his appearances were as a starter, as his team narrowly avoided relegation.

Micael was loaned to S.C. Braga for 2012–13, starting the year in impressive fashion: in two games separated by only three days in late August, he scored three goals, starting with a brace in a 3–1 home victory against S.C. Beira-Mar then netting the 1–1 equaliser at Udinese Calcio in the UEFA Champions League last qualifying round. In the latter match, he rounded up his performance by converting the decisive penalty in the shootout to help his team reach the group stage for the second time in their history.

Micael continued his strong displays in the Champions League group phase, scoring the first goal in an eventual 2–0 away win over Galatasaray SK in the second round. On 20 October 2012, Atlético sold 50% of his economic rights to Braga for €3 million. He made his Chinese Super League debut on 4 July, as a substitute in a goalless home draw against Changchun Yatai FC. He totalled 11 games over the season, and scored to open a 3–1 loss at Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C. on 31 October.

After his team was relegated in 2016, Micael was linked with a move to Rangers of the Scottish Premiership. On 2 February 2017, he was loaned to Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. for the remainder of the campaign. He scored his first goal for the side on 18 March 2017, in a 3–0 home win against Bnei Sakhnin FC.

Return to Portugal On 16 January 2018, Micael returned to Portugal's top flight, signing for F.C. Paços de Ferreira until 2021. In June, however, he switched to a one-year deal at Vitória F.C. under his former Maccabi manager Lito Vidigal.

At the end of his contract in Setúbal, Micael returned to Nacional after nine years away; the 33-year-old was their first signing, following relegation in May 2019. Two years later, having experienced another promotion and relegation, he announced his retirement.

International career On 29 March 2011, Micael made his debut for Portugal, starting and scoring twice in a 2–0 friendly victory over Finland in Aveiro. He was chosen by coach Paulo Bento for UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, but played no matches for the semi-finalists.

Career statistics Club

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Micael goal. + List of international goals scored by Rúben Micael

Taça de Portugal: 2009–10, 2010–11