Portuguese futsal winger Amílcar Gomes retires after 33-year career

Amílcar Gomes has announced the end of his futsal career, leaving the courts after more than 30 years in the sport. The decision was made public this Wednesday by Famalicão, the club the 40-year-old winger represented for the past two seasons.

Career Journey

Born in Gondomar, Gomes began his futsal journey in the youth system of Coimbrões. He later moved through Modicus Bruval and FJ Antunes before joining Sp. Braga in the 2011/12 season.

After four seasons with Braga, he embarked on an international career:

• Italy: Represented ASD Cosenza and ASD Salinis
• Qatar: Played for Al Gharafa
• Hungary: Wore the jersey of MVFC Berettyóúfalu

The Portuguese international, capped ten times, returned to Braga in 2019, scoring six goals in 24 games over one season. He then spent three years at Clube Recreativo de Candoso/Natcal before representing Caxinas. In the 2024/25 season, he moved to Vila Nova de Famalicão, where he recorded 33 goals in 48 games over two seasons before deciding to retire.

Farewell Message

"Today I close a very important chapter of my life, I end my career as a futsal player. It was about 33 years of competing and I regret nothing. Every moment and every club were very important and made me the person I am today," Gomes told Famalicão's media.

"I keep many memories, moments, and achievements, but above all, I keep the values I learned and that this sport allowed me to acquire in my training and as a senior. Values like resilience, character, team spirit, and mutual help. Values that I still carry today and that I am sure helped shape me as a person and athlete, and that, together with the education my parents gave me, helped me reach this moment and be proud of what I achieved."

National Team Pride

In his farewell, Gomes highlighted his appearances for the National Team as a career high point:

"Reaching the National Team is the level every athlete wants to achieve. It was undoubtedly the highlight of my career as a futsal player. I take this opportunity to thank all the clubs I represented. Thank you to all the boards, technical and medical teams, and all the colleagues I shared the locker room with. Thank you very much because without them this journey would have been impossible."

Final Words on Famalicão and the Sport

"Famalicão came at the end of my career. At the time, I accepted the challenge and already came with the goal of achieving promotion and leaving the club in the first division, where it deserves to be, and also ending my last year as a first-division player. We succeeded and I was very happy."

"I hope that futsal continues to grow as it has grown in recent years, that it continues to play a preponderant and fundamental role in the growth of athletes and people, because it's not just about the sporting journey, it's also about the journey as a person. I sincerely hope that the sport continues to grow and that people continue to fill the pavilions. I am sure we are on the right track and that this will happen."

"I will miss the court, especially the moments of competition, the adrenaline of the games, competing, and winning. I am sure I will miss it," he admitted.