Nuno Gomes

For other people named Nuno Gomes, see Nuno Gomes (disambiguation).
This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Pereira and the second or paternal family name is Ribeiro.
Nuno Gomes

Gomes celebrating a goal for Benfica in 2007
Personal information
Full name Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro
Date of birth (1976-07-05) 5 July 1976
Place of birth Amarante, Portugal
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 12 in)
Playing position Striker
Youth career
1987–1990 Amarante
1990–1994 Boavista
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Boavista 79 (23)
1997–2000 Benfica 101 (60)
2000–2002 Fiorentina 53 (14)
2002–2011 Benfica 192 (65)
2011–2012 Braga 20 (6)
2012–2013 Blackburn Rovers 18 (4)
Total 463 (158)
National team
1990 Portugal U15 3 (3)
1991–1992 Portugal U16 9 (4)
1992–1993 Portugal U17 5 (2)
1993–1994 Portugal U18 15 (5)
1995–1996 Portugal U20 13 (9)
1995–1997 Portugal U21 14 (5)
1996 Portugal U23 5 (1)
1996–2011 Portugal 79 (29)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro, OIH (born 5 July 1976), known as Nuno Gomes, is a former Portuguese professional footballer who played as a striker.

He was given the nickname Gomes during childhood after Fernando Gomes, and was one of the country's most recognisable offensive players in the 1990s and 2000s; he consistently scored for both club and country, and was also capable of being a good link-up player, accumulating a number of assists throughout his career,[1] which was spent mainly with Benfica, for which he netted 166 goals in 398 games over the course of 12 professional seasons.[2]

Gomes represented Portugal in two World Cups and three European Championships. He helped the national team finish second at Euro 2004 and third at Euro 2000, and won more than 100 caps all categories comprised (nearly 80 for the senior side alone).

Club career

Boavista / Benfica

Born in Amarante, Gomes established his reputation with Boavista FC, where he made his Primeira Liga debut in the 1994–95 season, aged 18. He collected his first silverware as his team beat S.L. Benfica to lift the Taça de Portugal in 1997, scoring one goal in a 3–2 win in the final.

Gomes ranked joint-fourth top scorer in his last year at the Estádio do Bessa, before moving to Benfica. In the 1998–99 campaign he netted 34 times across all competitions, in an eventual third-place finish in the league.

Fiorentina / Return to Benfica

After three seasons at Benfica, in which he scored over 60 goals in over 100 appearances, his Euro 2000 exploits earned Gomes a €17 million move to ACF Fiorentina. He won the Coppa Italia in his first year, but financial collapse by the Viola precipitated a 2002 return to his previous club.

A series of nagging injuries limited Gomes to under 70 games from 2002 to 2005,[3][4] but he still helped Benfica win the domestic cup in 2003–04 and the league the following season – in the latter, he contributed with seven goals from 23 appearances. He enjoyed his best season in 2005–06, scoring 15 goals in the league, including two in an away win against FC Porto (0–2)[5] and a hat-trick against U.D. Leiria, snatching second place in the scorers' list and adding the subsequent Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, where he netted the game's only goal against Vitória de Setúbal.[6]

From 2006–07 onwards, Gomes faced tough competition for a starting place in Benfica's attack: he only netted six times in the league, and would suffer even more after the signing of Paraguayan Óscar Cardozo in the following summer. However, still a valuable member of the squad, he netted nine goals overall during the season, and was also made team captain over legendary Rui Costa.

On 2 October 2008, Gomes scored his 150th goal for Benfica in a UEFA Cup outing against S.S.C. Napoli (2–0 home win, 4–3 aggregate triumph) with a fine header. Following the June 2009 signing of Argentine Javier Saviola, he further fell down in the striker pecking order.

Again a reserve player in the 2010–11 campaign – but playing even less – 34-year-old Gomes made the most with the minutes provided to him by manager Jorge Jesus. He scored his first goal in the campaign on 14 November 2010 in a 4–0 home win against Associação Naval 1º de Maio, the 200th in the competition,[7] and dedicated it to his father Joaquim who had died in August.[8] In two consecutive league games in March 2011, he scored three goals, one at home against Portimonense SC (1–1 draw[9]) and two in a 5–1 away routing of F.C. Paços de Ferreira,[10] appearing as a late substitute in all three matches.

Braga

Less than one month shy of his 35th birthday, Gomes was released by Benfica after the club decided not to renew his contract. He was, however, offered a position in the team's managerial structure, effective immediately or when he eventually retired.[11][12] Shortly after, he signed for fellow league side S.C. Braga.

On 11 September 2011, Gomes scored a brace in a 3–1 home win against Gil Vicente FC.[13] During his only season with the Minho team, however, he was mostly used as a backup.

Blackburn Rovers

On 3 July 2012, Gomes signed a two-year deal at Blackburn Rovers in the Football League Championship, becoming their third signing of the 2012–13 summer transfer window.[14] On 18 August he made his league debut for his new club, against Ipswich Town, scoring his first goal the following round against Leicester City (2–1 home win).[15]

On 28 June 2013, aged nearly 37, Gomes was released from his contract.[16]

International career

Gomes represented Portugal at every level, earning 143 caps all categories comprised and scoring at an excellent rate overall. He helped the under-20s finish third in the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship by netting four goals in as many games, including two in the third-place game against Spain; the following year he appeared at the 1996 Summer Olympics, helping to an eventual fourth place.[17]

Gomes made his senior international debut at 19, in a 1996 friendly against France. He scored his first senior international goal in Portugal's opening match at the UEFA Euro 2000, marking his fourth start with the winner as the side came from two goals down to beat England 3–2.[18] He would finish the competition with four goals as the national team reached the last four, but earned a seven-month international ban after pushing referee Günter Benkö following the semi-final defeat by France, in which he had netted the opening goal;[19] he was selected to the UEFA team of the tournament.

With seven goals in only six matches, Gomes helped Portugal qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup – this included a four-goal performance in a 7–1 away win against Andorra.[20] He would struggle to hold a starting place in the finals in South Korea and Japan, only appearing twice as a substitute; on 19 November 2003 he scored his second hat-trick, in only 21 minutes of play against Kuwait.[21]

Things went better for Gomes at Euro 2004, where he played each game and, after coming on as a half-time substitute, scored the winning goal against Spain to send the hosts through to the quarter-finals. He was often injured during the nation's 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, only managing to play four games, with one goal; he found limited time at the final stages and only made two appearances, but managed to find the back of the net with a header against Germany in the third-place game, a 1–3 defeat.

After the retirement of Pauleta, Gomes was expected to become his successor in the striker role. He played ten matches and scored three times in Euro 2008's qualifying campaign, captained Portugal at the finals and scored against Germany in the quarter-finals, thus becoming the fourth player to score at three straight European Championships.[22]

After the appointment of Carlos Queiroz as coach, Gomes was constantly left out of the squad due to his lack of minutes at his club. During the 2010 World Cup qualification, he only took part in four out of twelve matches, all as a substitute, with Liédson and Hugo Almeida being preferred; he was later on left out of the 23-men squad for the final stages in South Africa, this being the first time the player was left out of a major tournament.

On 7 October 2011, after more than two years out of international play, 35-year-old Gomes replaced Hélder Postiga in the last minute of a 5–3 home win against Iceland for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. Four days later, he played against Denmark in what was his 79th and last full international appearance;[23] due to little playing time for his club in 2011–12, he was left out of Paulo Bento's squad for the finals in Poland and Ukraine.

International goals

Nuno Gomes: International goals[24]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 June 2000 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands  England 3–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 2000
2 24 June 2000 Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands  Turkey 0–1 0–2 UEFA Euro 2000
3 24 June 2000 Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands  Turkey 0–2 0–2 UEFA Euro 2000
4 28 June 2000 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium  France 1–0 1–2 UEFA Euro 2000
5 1 September 2001 Camp d'Esports, Lleida, Andorra  Andorra 0–1 1–7 2002 World Cup qualification
6 1 September 2001 Camp d'Esports, Lleida, Andorra  Andorra 0–3 1–7 2002 World Cup qualification
7 1 September 2001 Camp d'Esports, Lleida, Andorra  Andorra 1–5 1–7 2002 World Cup qualification
8 1 September 2001 Camp d'Esports, Lleida, Andorra  Andorra 1–7 1–7 2002 World Cup qualification
9 5 September 2001 Antonis Papadopoulos, Larnaca, Cyprus  Cyprus 1–1 1–3 2002 World Cup qualification
10 6 October 2001 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal  Estonia 2–0 5–0 2002 World Cup qualification
11 6 October 2001 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal  Estonia 4–0 5–0 2002 World Cup qualification
12 14 November 2001 Estádio José Alvalade (1956), Lisbon, Portugal  Angola 2–1 5–1 Friendly
13 14 November 2001 Estádio José Alvalade (1956), Lisbon, Portugal  Angola 4–1 5–1 Friendly
14 25 May 2002 Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau, China  China PR 0–1 0–2 Friendly
15 19 November 2003 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal  Kuwait 6–0 8–0 Friendly
16 19 November 2003 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal  Kuwait 7–0 8–0 Friendly
17 19 November 2003 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal  Kuwait 8–0 8–0 Friendly
18 28 April 2004 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal  Sweden 2–2 2–2 Friendly
19 29 May 2004 Estádio Municipal de Águeda, Águeda Municipality, Portugal  Luxembourg 2–0 3–0 Friendly
20 5 May 2004 Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal, Portugal  Lithuania 3–1 4–1 Friendly
21 20 June 2004 Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal  Spain 0–1 0–1 UEFA Euro 2004
22 26 March 2005 Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, Barcelos Municipality, Portugal, Portugal  Canada 4–1 4–1 Friendly
23 8 October 2005 Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro Municipality, Portugal  Liechtenstein 2–1 2–1 2006 World Cup qualification
24 8 July 2006 Mercedes-Benz Arena (Stuttgart), Stuttgart, Germany  Germany 3–1 3–1 2006 FIFA World Cup
25 6 September 2006 Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 1–1 1–1 Euro 2008 qualifying
26 11 October 2006 Stadion Śląski, Chorzów, Poland  Poland 2–1 2–1 Euro 2008 qualifying
27 24 March 2007 Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal  Belgium 1–0 4–0 Euro 2008 qualifying
28 26 March 2008 Esprit Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany  Greece 1–2 1–2 Friendly
29 19 June 2008 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland  Germany 1–2 2–3 UEFA Euro 2008

Personal life

Gomes' younger brother, Tiago (born 1981), was also a footballer and a striker. He played most of his career in the lower leagues but, from 2004 to 2007, competed in the second division with F.C. Marco (two seasons) and C.D. Olivais e Moscavide (one), amassing overall totals of 30 games and one goal.

He has been married twice, first to Isméria with whom he had a daughter, Laura, born in 1999. In July 2006 he married lawyer Patrícia Aguilar, with whom he also had another child, born in July 2010.

Gomes was featured on the cover of the Portuguese edition of FIFA Football 2002.

Club statistics

[25]

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Boavista 1994–95 1712041232
1995–96 2872100308
1996–97 341554624521
Total 7923951039831
Benfica 1997–98 331864104022
1998–99 342423774334
1999–00 341821514120
Total 1016010813812476
Fiorentina 2000–01 30934003313
2001–02 23510623017
Total 531444626320
Benfica 2002–03 2791000289
2003–04 21730552912
2004–05 23752633412
2005–06 29154180422172
2006–07 246331444113
2007–08 257310081369
2008–09 247102161349
2009–10 133202061254
2010–11 6410110085
Total 1926523752531527690
Braga 2011–12 206202050296
Total 206202050296
Blackburn Rovers 2012–13 184200000204
Total 184200000204
Career total 4631725024728728607226

1 includes one match in the Italian Supercup.
2 includes one match and one goal in the Portuguese Supercup.

Honours

Club

Boavista
Benfica
Fiorentina

Country

Portugal

Individual

Orders

References

  1. Matteo Magrini (26 June 2009). "Esclusiva TMW – Nuno Gomes, il Livorno ci pensa" [TMW exclusive – Nuno Gomes, Livorno are contemplating him] (in Italian). Tutto Mercato. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  2. Simon Hart (4 October 2012). "Nuno Gomes: Foreigners are not cheats, we just like to jump out of the way". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  3. Early finish for Nuno Gomes; UEFA.com, 15 May 2003
  4. Nuno Gomes enjoys happy return; UEFA.com, 5 November 2003
  5. Nuno Gomes inspires Benfica; UEFA.com, 15 October 2005
  6. Benfica earn Super Cup success; UEFA.com, 13 August 2005
  7. Gaitan brings smiles back to Benfica; PortuGOAL, 14 November 2010
  8. Nuno Gomes 'gritou de revolta' e reclama mais oportunidades (Nuno Gomes 'cried in anger' and wants more playing time); Diário de Notícias, 16 November 2010 (Portuguese)
  9. Benfica held at Luz by Portimonense; PortuGOAL, 13 March 2011
  10. Benfica hit five past Pacos; PortuGOAL, 21 March 2011
  11. "Nuno Gomes deixa Benfica" [Nuno Gomes leaves Benfica] (in Portuguese). UEFA.com. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  12. "Benfica legend Nuno Gomes set to part ways with the Portuguese club". Bleacher Report. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  13. Liga round-up; PortuGOAL, 11 September 2011
  14. "Rovers sign Nuno Gomes". Blackburn Rovers. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  15. Blackburn 2–1 Leicester; BBC Sport, 25 August 2012
  16. "Nuno departs". Blackburn Rovers. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  17. Nuno GomesFIFA competition record
  18. "England crushed in five-goal classic". BBC Sport. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  19. UEFA suspends Portuguese trio; BBC Sport, 2 July 2000
  20. "Andorra-Portugal, 1–7" (in Portuguese). Record. 1 September 2001. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  21. "A eficácia de Nuno Gomes" [The efficiency of Nuno Gomes] (in Portuguese). Record. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  22. Consolation prize for Nuno Gomes; UEFA.com, 20 June 2008
  23. Selecção nacional A jogos de qualificação Euro 2012 (National team A Euro 2012 qualifiers); Portuguese Football Federation (Portuguese)
  24. "Nuno Gomes". Portuguese Football Federation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  25. "Nuno Gomes". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "Bicampeões para a história" [Back-to-back champions to history]. Visão (in Portuguese). Portugal: Impresa Publishing: 60. May 2015. ISSN 0872-3540.
  27. "Selecção distinguida pelo Duque de Bragança" [National team honoured by Duke of Bragança] (in Portuguese). Cristiano Ronaldo News. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2006.
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