Carlos António Gomes

Carlos António do Carmo Costa Gomes (Barreiro, 18 January, 1932 - Lisbon, 18 October 2005) was one of the greatest Portuguese goalkeepers.

He started his career in Barreirense, before being transferred to Sporting, in 1950, aged 18, were he was the substitute of another legendary goalkeeper, João Azevedo. In just a year, he was the n. 1 of Sporting, were he played until 1957/58, being four times national champion (1951/52, 1952/53, 1953/54 and 1957/58) and also winning a Cup of Portugal (1958).

During the golden years of his career, he played 18 times for the National Team, being his first game in 22 November 1953, in 3-1 win over South Africa, in a friendly match, and the last game in 7 May 1958, in a 1-2 defeat with England, in another friendly match.

After being refused by Sporting his demands, he moved to Spain, were he represented Granada and Real Oviedo. He returned to Portugal, to play for Atlético, in 1960/61. He was a known opponent of the fascist regime and it's believed, like he claimed, that the allegations of rape against him were a set-up, created by the political police of the regime to force him to leave football. After a simulated injury in an Atlético game with Vitória Guimarães, he escaped to Spain.

He lived for many years abroad in Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia before returning to Portugal in the 1980s. He moved again to Spain and Austria, returning finally to Portugal in July 2005, suffering from Parkinson's Disease.