Baltazar (footballer, born 1959) facts for kids

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Baltazar

Baltazar in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior
Date of birth	(1959-07-27) 27 July 1959 (age 64)
Place of birth	Goiânia, Brazil
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1978–1979	Atlético Goianiense
1979–1982	Grêmio	78	(46)
1982	Palmeiras
1983	Flamengo	26	(13)
1984	Palmeiras	11	(2)
1984–1985	Botafogo	18	(1)
1985–1988	Celta	92	(47)
1988–1990	Atlético Madrid	77	(53)
1990–1991	Porto	19	(2)
1991–1993	Rennes	34	(6)
1993–1995	Goiás	18	(11)
1995–1996	Kyoto Purple Sanga	30	(28)
National team
1980–1989	Brazil	6	(2)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior (born 27 July 1959), known simply as Baltazar, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a striker.

During an 18-year professional career he played, other than in his country, in Spain, Portugal, France and Japan, winning several individual scoring honours. He appeared with the Brazil national team that won the 1989 Copa América.

Club career

Born in Goiânia, Goiás, Baltazar started playing with hometown club Atlético Goianiense. He signed for Grêmio in 1979, going on to score in double digits during his entire four-season spell a recording a best of 14 in 1980 while being an instrumental attacking unit in the team's back-to-back Gauchão conquests; in the 1981's Série A final against São Paulo, after missing a penalty kick in the first leg (2–1 home win), he scored the only goal in the second match for a first-ever national championship conquest.

In the following four years, Baltazar played for Palmeiras (two spells), Flamengo and Botafogo, netting 13 times for the second side in another Brazilian championship conquest. He had his first abroad experience aged 26, being relegated from the Spanish La Liga with RC Celta de Vigo.

In 1986–87, Baltazar propelled the Galicians back into the top level by scoring a career-best 34 goals, also a best-ever in the second division. In a game in December, he accidentally collided with CD Málaga goalkeeper José Antonio Gallardo who died days later from a cerebral haemorrhage; he mourned the death which some had blamed him for.

Baltazar only found the net on six occasions in the following season, but the club retained its league status. He subsequently stayed in the country and joined Atlético Madrid, scoring 35 goals in 36 contests in his first season – his second Pichichi in three years – and adding 18 in the following; however, after the emergence of younger Manolo, the 31-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Tomislav Ivić and, in November 1990, signed for FC Porto in Portugal, being used almost exclusively as a substitute during his only season.

Until his retirement at the age of 37 in 1996, Baltazar played for Stade Rennais (France), Goiás and Kyoto Purple Sanga (Japan).

International career

Baltazar played for Brazil at the 1989 Copa América which was held on home soil, appearing in three group stage matches for the eventual winners (including the 0–0 against Colombia as a starter). However, during nearly one full decade, he only earned a total of six caps and scored two goals.

Post-retirement

Highly religious, Baltazar was nicknamed O Artilheiro de Deus (God's striker). He became a minister after retiring from football, settling in his hometown and fathering two children.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club

Grêmio

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1981
• Campeonato Gaúcho: 1979, 1980

Flamengo

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1983

Porto

• Taça de Portugal: 1990–91

Goiás

• Campeonato Goiano: 1994

International

Brazil

• Copa América: 1989

Individual

• Campeonato Goiano: Top Scorer 1978, 1994
• Campeonato Gaúcho: Top Scorer 1980, 1981
• Campeonato Carioca: Top Scorer 1984
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: Top Scorer 1994
• Pichichi Trophy: 1986–87 (Segunda División), 1988–89

See also

In Spanish: Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior para niños