Biography
Who is Gelson Martins?
Early life and beginnings
Gelson Dany Batalha Martins was born in Praia, Cape Verde. During his teenage years, he relocated to Portugal to pursue a career in sports. He started his youth training with C.F. Benfica before moving to the Sporting CP academy.
By March 2014, the organization promoted him to the Sporting CP B squad, where he signed a contract set to run until 2019. His early development included a well-known goal against C.F. União de Coimbra that earned attention despite feedback regarding his positioning on the pitch.
Professional career at Sporting CP
His debut as a professional occurred on 24 August 2014 while playing for the B team against S.C. Olhanense in the Segunda Liga. He registered his first competitive goal later that December during a victory over Vitória S.C. B. In the summer of 2015, manager Jorge Jesus moved him to the main squad. He appeared in the Primeira Liga that August.
In January 2016, he achieved a milestone by scoring Sporting's 5,000th goal in league history during a match against C.D. Tondela. Gelson Martins played 140 matches for the club and secured two trophies. He requested the termination of his contract in June 2018 following a violent incident at the training facility involving supporters.
European club career
Following his exit from Lisbon, he joined Atlético Madrid in July 2018 on a free transfer. His La Liga debut took place in August 2018 against Valencia CF. Later that year, he recorded his first goal for the Spanish side in a Copa del Rey match against UE Sant Andreu.
In January 2019, he moved to AS Monaco on a loan arrangement before signing a permanent five-year deal that summer. During his time in France, he faced a suspension after an incident involving a match official. By January 2024, he signed with the Greek club Olympiacos. He achieved significant success there, contributing to the squad that won the 2024–25 Super League Greece title and the Greek Football Cup.
International football
The winger represented Portugal across several age groups, starting with the under-18 team. He played for the under-19 squad at the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, helping the team finish as runners-up in Hungary. He also participated in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he scored goals against Senegal and New Zealand.
His senior team debut occurred in 2016 during a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. He earned a spot on the squad for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In the latter tournament, he made an appearance against Morocco after substituting for Bernardo Silva.
Playing style and personal details
Standing at 173 centimeters tall, Gelson Martins primarily operates as a winger on either side of the pitch. He possesses the versatility to function as a right-back, a skill that helped secure his positions within the junior national squads.
Outside of his professional activities, he shares a family connection with another footballer, his cousin Euclides Cabral.
Birthday and age
Gelson Martins was born on May 11, 1995, which makes Gelson 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Gelson shares the date with 65 other famous people.
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