Rui Jordão

Rui Manuel Trindade Jordão (; 9 August 1952 – 18 October 2019) was a Portuguese footballer.

His professional career was spent mostly with two of the biggest clubs in the country, Benfica and Sporting CP. One of the most prolific strikers in the history of Portuguese football, he won the Silver Ball award twice, once with each team.

Jordão represented the Portugal national team for 17 years, appearing with them at Euro 1984.

Club career Born in Benguela, Portuguese Angola, Jordão moved in his teens to Portugal's Benfica, making his professional debut in 1971–72. He played 18 games and scored seven goals in his debut campaign, appearing slightly less in his second but still contributing five goals as the club won back-to-back Primeira Liga titles, only losing one match over two seasons.

Jordão signed with Spanish side Real Zaragoza in the summer of 1976, scoring regularly but being relegated from La Liga. Subsequently, he returned to his country of adoption and joined Sporting CP. against Cyprus in the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Also in that year he was picked for the squad that lost the Brazilian Independence Cup, 1–0 to hosts Brazil.

Jordão played his last international in 1989 at nearly 37, the same year of his club retirement. He had returned to the national team after several players were given punishments for the Saltillo Affair at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Later life After he retired, Jordão moved away from the football world and became a painter and a sculptor.

Career statistics International

International goals International goals header|ref=no|above=Rui Jordão: International goals Primeira Liga: 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76 Taça de Portugal: 1971–72

Sporting CP Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 1980