Mantorras facts for kids

Pedro Manuel Torres (born 18 March 1982), known as Mantorras, is a retired Angolan footballer who played as a striker.

His nickname, Mantorras, comes from an Angolan phrase "Mano Torras," which means "toasted brother." He got this name because he had some small burns when he was a child. Mantorras spent most of his professional career playing for Benfica in Portugal. Sadly, his career was often interrupted by many injuries, which made him retire from football at just 30 years old.

Mantorras also played for the Angola national team in the 2000s. He represented his country in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Club Career: Playing for Top Teams

Mantorras was born in Huambo, Angola. He started his football journey at a club called Progresso Associação do Sambizanga. Soon, talented scouts from Portugal noticed him. He then moved to F.C. Alverca, a team that also helped train players for the bigger club, S.L. Benfica.

He scored a memorable goal in a 3–1 win against Sporting Clube de Portugal in February 2001. That season, he scored nine goals in the league, helping his team stay in the top division.

When he was 19, Mantorras joined Benfica, one of Portugal's biggest clubs. He played very well in his first season (2001–02). Because of his amazing talent, big clubs like FC Barcelona and Inter Milan became interested in him. People often said he was the best player from Portuguese Africa since the legendary Eusébio. Eusébio himself praised Mantorras, saying he had "special qualities" and a "great future."

Battling Injuries and Returning to Play

In 2002, Mantorras faced a very serious knee injury. This injury almost ended his promising career. He spent about two and a half years recovering and had four surgeries. He finally returned to the field during the 2004–05 season. He played an important part in helping Benfica win the national championship, which was their first league title in 11 years. He scored five goals in just 15 matches during that time.

Even after recovering, Mantorras found it hard to get back into the starting team regularly. However, he remained a favorite among the fans. He even said he wanted to stay at Benfica for his whole career, even if he wasn't paid!

Benfica won the league again in 2009–10. They also won the domestic league cup and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. Mantorras played only ten minutes in a pre-season game that year. In February 2011, just before his 29th birthday, he announced he was retiring from professional football. He tried a short comeback with another club, C.D. Primeiro de Agosto, but it wasn't successful.

Life After Playing: Club Ambassador

In June 2012, Mantorras returned to Benfica as a club ambassador. This means he represents the club at events and helps promote it. The next month, he had a special "testimonial match" at Benfica's stadium, the Estádio da Luz. Many famous football players from around the world joined to play in this match, including Luís Figo, Edgar Davids, Ronaldo, and Fabio Cannavaro. Mantorras even scored a goal in the 5–1 win! After the game, he thanked the fans for their support and dedicated his goal to them. His former coach, Jorge Jesus, also praised Mantorras and the money raised from the game.

International Career: Playing for Angola

Mantorras proudly represented Angola. He played for the Angola Under-20 team in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina. He scored a goal in a 1–1 draw against Australia, helping his country reach the round of 16.

He became a full international player for Angola when he was 19. He was part of the Angolan team that made history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever in 2006. At the World Cup, he played twice as a substitute, including in a match against Portugal.

Even though he wasn't playing much for Benfica at the time, Mantorras was also called up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. This tournament was played in Angola, his home country. Angola reached the quarter-finals, and Mantorras played once as a substitute in a 2–0 win against Malawi.

Personal Life: Helping Others

Soon after joining Benfica, Mantorras made a promise. He said he would donate a large part of his earnings to create a home for street children in Luanda, Angola. He understood their struggles because of his own experiences. He explained: "My father died when I was three months old and my mother when I was 16. I had a brother to look after and became the head of the family [when I was] very young. I had a lot of difficulties early in my life. Now that my fortunes have improved, I'm going to do what I can to help the underprivileged." This shows his kind heart and desire to help those in need.

Honours

Benfica

• Primeira Liga: 2004–05
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2005; runner-up: 2004
• Taça de Portugal: 2003–04; runner-up: 2004–05

International

• African Youth Championship: 2001

Individual

• CAF Young Player: 2001

See also

In Spanish: Mantorras para niños