Brigadier General James Monroe Williams

For the Chilean footballer, see Luis Leal (footballer, born 1929).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Leal and the second or paternal family name is Anjos.

Luís Leal dos Anjos (born 29 May 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Argentine club Almagro and the São Tomé and Príncipe national team.

He achieved Primeira Liga totals of 67 games and 19 goals for União de Leiria, Estoril and Belenenses, but spent most of his career abroad, playing top-flight football in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Cyprus, Paraguay, Mexico, Argentina and Bolivia.

Born in Portugal, Leal represented São Tomé and Príncipe at international level.

Club career

Portugal

Born in Arrentela, Setúbal District in Portugal, Leal joined Sporting CP's youth system at the age of 11, moving after four years to C.D. Cova da Piedade. He made his senior debut with the latter, playing a couple of seasons in the fourth division.[2][3]

Leal then had two solid campaigns in the third tier, one apiece with Atlético Clube de Portugal and Moreirense FC, continuing his professional progression in summer 2010 by signing with G.D. Estoril Praia in the Segunda Liga.[2] He made his debut in the Primeira Liga in the 2011–12 campaign with U.D. Leiria,[4] appearing in his first game in the competition on 15 August 2011 against Académica de Coimbra (17 minutes played, 1–2 home loss).[5]

In 2012, after Leiria's relegation – and further demotion to division three due to irregularities – Leal returned to Estoril, with the team now in the top flight. He started the season in impressive fashion, scoring a hat-trick in a 3–1 home win over C.S. Marítimo[6] and one goal in a 2–2 draw at former club Sporting.[7]

Abroad

On 18 June 2015, after brief spells at Al Ahli Saudi FC, Al-Ittihad Kalba SC and Gaziantepspor, Leal signed a two-year contract with Cypriot First Division club APOEL FC.[8] He made his debut on 14 July, in a 0–0 home draw against FK Vardar in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.[9]

Leal scored his first two goals for APOEL on 22 August 2015, in a 5–1 away victory over Ermis Aradippou FC.[10][11] Eight days later, however, after underperforming in the Champions League's qualifiers, he was sent on loan to C.F. Os Belenenses until the end of the season.[12]

On 26 January 2016, Leal joined Cerro Porteño for an undisclosed fee,[13][14] agreeing to a two-year deal.[15] He made his debut in the Paraguayan Primera División five days later, in a 2–1 away loss to Sportivo Luqueño where he came on as a 64th-minute substitute for Sergio Díaz;[16] one week later, he scored a double to help to a 3–0 home defeat of General Caballero Sport Club.[17]

Leal returned to the Saudi Professional League in August 2016, joining Al Fateh SC.[18] Only months into his spell at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, the player's agent Óscar Díaz stated that he wanted to return to Cerro.[19] He left in January 2017, signing for Chiapas F.C. in Mexico's Liga MX.[20] His first goal for the Jaguares was on 26 February, the team's last in a 4–3 home comeback win over CD Guadalajara.[21]

In August 2017, Leal returned to South America, loaned for a US$150,000 fee to Newell's Old Boys in Argentina with the option to buy.[22] He scored his first goal in the Argentine Primera División on 16 September to open a 2–0 home victory against Club Olimpo.[23] In July 2018, he signed a three-year contract when the Rosario-based club purchased 85% of his economic rights.[24]

In August 2020, Leal returned to Mexico's top flight with Club Tijuana.[25] He totalled nine games for the Xolos, including their defeat to CF Monterrey in the Copa MX final in October.[26]

Leal made a move to another country he already knew in January 2021, when he signed a one-year deal at Club Sol de América in Paraguay.[27] On 31 December, he switched to the Bolivian Primera División with Club Deportivo Guabirá.[28]

International career

Born in Portugal, Leal expressed his desire to represent his parents' homeland of São Tomé and Príncipe internationally.[29] He made his debut on 16 June 2012 in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Sierra Leone, and scored his first goal on 13 June 2015 in the 7–1 defeat in Cape Verde for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.[30]

In October 2019, Leal scored three of São Tomé and Príncipe's goals in a 5–2 aggregate win over Mauritius to reach the group stage of qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[31] On 24 March 2022, he scored the only goal in the 1–0 victory against the same team in the preliminary round of qualification for the 2023 CAN, and also found the net in the return leg five days later, a 3–3 draw; he was subsequently found to have been ineligible for the first of these matches due to breaching COVID-19 rules, and Mauritius were awarded a 3–0 win,[32][33] only for São Tomé to be later reinstated.[34]

Career statistics

Club

As of 25 June 2023[35]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlético 2008–09[36] Segunda Divisão 29 12 2 0 — — — 31 12
Moreirense 2009–10[36] Segunda Divisão 32 13 2 1 — — — 34 14
Estoril 2010–11[36] Segunda Liga 23 8 0 0 6 0 — — 29 8
União Leiria 2011–12[36] Primeira Liga 16 2 1 0 2 0 — — 19 2
Estoril 2012–13[36] Primeira Liga 30 10 1 0 4 0 — — 35 10
2013–14[36] 11 5 2 1 0 0 9[a] 3 — 22 9
Total Estoril 41 15 3 1 4 0 9 3 — 57 19
Al Ahli 2013–14[37] Saudi Pro League 9 7 1 0 5[b] 2 — — 15 9
Ittihad Kalba 2014–15[37] UAE Pro League 12 5 — 6 0 — — 18 5
Gaziantepspor (loan) 2014–15[37] Süper Lig 11 0 1 1 — — — 12 1
APOEL 2015–16[37] Cypriot First Division 1 2 0 0 — 6[c] 0 1[d] 0 8 2
Belenenses (loan) 2015–16[37] Primeira Liga 10 2 1 0 0 0 6[a] 1 — 17 3
Cerro Porteño 2016[37] Paraguayan Primera División 23 14 - - 8 1 - 31 15
Al Fateh 2016–17[37] Saudi Pro League 9 2 1 0 - - - 10 2
Chiapas 2017–18[37] Liga MX 10 3 - - - - 10 3
Newell's Old Boys 2017–18[37] Argentine Primera División 23 7 1 0 - 1 2 - 25 9
2018–19[37] 19 4 5 1 - - - 24 5
2019–20[37] 14 3 1 1 - - - 15 4
Total Newell's Old Boys 56 14 7 2 - 1 2 - 64 18
Tijuana 2020–21[37] Liga MX 8 0 1 0 - - - 9 0
Sol de América 2021[37] Paraguayan Primera División 24 4 2 0 - - - 26 4
Guabirá 2022[37] Bolivian Primera División 37 10 - - 2 0 - 39 10
Arsenal Sarandí 2023[37] Argentine Primera División 17 3 1 0 - - - 18 3
Career total 368 116 23 5 23 2 32 7 1 0 447 130
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in King Cup
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearance in Cypriot Super Cup

International

As of match played 22 March 2024[38]
São Tomé and Príncipe
Year Apps Goals
2012 1 0
2013 0 0
2014 0 0
2015 3 2
2016 4 1
2017 2 0
2019 4 3
2020 2 0
2021 1 0
2022 4 2
2023 4 2
2024 1 1
Total 26 11
As of 22 March 2024. São Tomé and Príncipe score listed first, score column indicates score after each Leal goal.[38]
List of international goals scored by Luís Leal
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 13 June 2015 Estádio Nacional, Praia, Cape Verde  Cape Verde 1–5 1–7 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2. 8 October 2015 Estádio Nacional 12 de Julho, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe  Ethiopia 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 23 March 2016  Libya 2–1 2–1 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4. 9 October 2019 Anjalay Stadium, Belle Vue Harel, Mauritius  Mauritius 1–1 3–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5. 2–1
6. 13 October 2019 Estádio Nacional 12 de Julho, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe  Mauritius 2–0 2–1
7. 24 March 2022 Complexe Sportif de Côte d'Or, Saint Pierre, Mauritius  Mauritius 1–0 1–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8. 27 March 2022  Mauritius 2–1 3–3
9. 22 March 2023 Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco  Sierra Leone 1–0 2–2 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10. 2–1
11. 22 March 2024 Berkane Municipal Stadium, Berkane, Morocco  South Sudan 1–0 1–1 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Luís Leal" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Full circle – a decade in the life of Luís Leal; PortuGOAL, 28 September 2012
  3. ^ Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (8 December 2019). "Luís Leal: "O Sá Pinto, ao querer ganhar sempre, acaba às vezes por passar um bocado o limite. Mas é uma grande pessoa"" [Luís Leal: "Sá Pinto, wanting to win all the time, eventually goes over the top sometimes. But he's a great guy"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  4. ^ Avançados Luís Leal e Jorge Chula são os primeiros reforços (Forwards Luís Leal and Jorge Chula are first signings) Archived 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine; MSN, 17 June 2011 (in Portuguese)
  5. ^ "Emanuel entra com pé direito" [Emanuel starts off on the right foot]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 16 August 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  6. ^ Luís Leal e o «hat trick»: «Foi uma boa noite» (Luís Leal and hat-trick: "It was a good night"); Mais Futebol, 24 September 2012 (in Portuguese)
  7. ^ Estoril derail Sporting at the Alvalade Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine; PortuGOAL, 29 September 2012
  8. ^ Κατ'αρχήν συμφωνία με Κωνσταντίνο Μακρίδη [Agreement in principle with Konstantinos Makridis] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  9. ^ "APOEL 0–0 Vardar". UEFA. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Ermis Aradippou 1–5 APOEL FC". APOEL FC. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  11. ^ "APOEL storm past Ermis in Larnaca". Cyprus Score. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Luís Leal reforça azuis" [Luís Leal bolsters blues]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  13. ^ Συμφωνία μετεγγραφής του ποδοσφαιριστή Luis Leal [Transfer agreement for footballer Luis Leal] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  14. ^ ΑΠΟΕΛ: Πλήρωσε η Σέρο Πορτένιο για τον Λεάλ! [APOEL: Cerro Porteño have paid for Leal!] (in Greek). Balla. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Fue presentado en forma oficial, como nuevo jugador del Ciclón, Luis Leal" [Luis Leal was officially presented as new player of the Cyclone] (in Spanish). Club Cerro. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Luqueño castiga errores y tumba a Cerro Porteño" [Luqueño punish mistakes and down Cerro Porteño] (in Spanish). D10. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  17. ^ "Luís Leal y Beltrán dirigen la goleada azulgrana" [Luís Leal and Beltrán lead azulgrana rout] (in Spanish). D10. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Luís Leal deja Cerro para ir a jugar en el fútbol de Arabia" [Luís Leal leaves Cerro to play in Arabian football] (in Spanish). D10. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  19. ^ "Luis Leal dejaría Arabia para volver a Cerro" [Luís Leal would leave Arabia to return to Cerro]. La Nación (in Spanish). 9 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  20. ^ "Aquivaldo Mosquera regresa al futbol mexicano" [Aquivaldo Mosquera returns to Mexican football]. Publímetro (in Spanish). 31 January 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Leal, el exótico jugador de la Liga MX que llegó desde África" [Leal, the exotic Liga MX player who arrived from Africa] (in Spanish). Bola VIP. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  22. ^ "Argentina: Luís Leal vai jogar na primeira equipa de Messi" [Argentina: Luís Leal will play for Messi's first team] (in Portuguese). Sábado. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Newell's consiguió su primera victoria en la Superliga ante Olimpo" [Newell's got their first Superleague victory against Olimpo]. Fox Sports (in Spanish). 16 September 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Luís Leal assina em definitivo pelo Newell's Old Boys" [Luís Leal signs permanently for Newell's Old Boys] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  25. ^ "Xolos le dio la bienvenida a Luis Leal como su nuevo refuerzo" [Xolos welcomed Luís Leal as their new addition]. Fox Sports (in Spanish). 2 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  26. ^ Carrasco Guerra, Jorge Gibran (22 October 2020). "El argentino Nicolás Sánchez guía el triunfo del Monterrey ante el Tijuana" [Argentine Nicolás Sánchez led Monterrey's triumph over Tijuana]. Diario de México (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Luís Leal es nuevo refuerzo de Sol" [Luís Leal is Sol's new addition] (in Spanish). D10. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  28. ^ Jordan Paz, Carlos (18 January 2022). "Luis Leal, el último refuerzo azucarero que se incorporó a la pretemporada" [Luis Leal, last azucarero addition to join the preseason]. El Deber (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  29. ^ S.Tomé/CAN/2013: Luís Leal chegou finalmente ao país e viaja ainda hoje para Malabo (S.Tomé/CAN/2013: Luís Leal finally arrived in the country and travels to Malabo still today)[permanent dead link]; STP Press, 12 June 2012 (in Portuguese)
  30. ^ "Cabo Verde arrasa São Tomé e Príncipe" [Cape Verde steamroll São Tomé and Príncipe]. Record (in Portuguese). 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  31. ^ "El delantero de la Superliga que fue héroe en Africa" [The Superliga striker who was a hero in Africa]. Olé (in Spanish). 14 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  32. ^ Mohabuth, Yasine (16 May 2022). "Afcon 2023: Sao Tome sanction means Mauritius will play in qualifiers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  33. ^ Warshaw, Andrew (17 May 2022). "Mauritius win 2023 AFCON qualifier slot after Sao Tome break covid rules". Inside World Football. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  34. ^ "Afcon 2023: Sao Tome reinstated to qualifiers as Mauritius ruled out". BBC Sport. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  35. ^ Luís Leal at WorldFootball.net
  36. ^ a b c d e f Luís Leal at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Luís Leal". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  38. ^ a b Luís Leal at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu%C3%ADs_Leal_(footballer,_born_1987)