Mantorras facts for kids

Pedro Manuel Torres (born on March 18, 1982), known as Mantorras, is a former professional footballer from Angola. He played as a striker, which means he was mainly responsible for scoring goals.

His nickname, Mantorras, comes from a childhood accident. He had some small burns, and people started calling him "Mano Torras," which means "toasted brother" in an Angolan expression. He spent most of his career playing for Benfica in Portugal. Sadly, his career was cut short by many injuries, and he had to retire when he was only 30 years old.

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

Mantorras's Club Career

Starting in Angola and Moving to Portugal

Mantorras was born in Huambo, Angola. He began his football journey at a club called Progresso Associação do Sambizanga. He was very talented and quickly caught the attention of football scouts from Portugal.

Soon after, he moved to Portugal to play for F.C. Alverca. This club was like a training ground for bigger teams, especially S.L. Benfica. Mantorras showed his skills early on, even scoring a goal against a big team, Sporting Clube de Portugal, in 2001. He ended that season with nine goals, helping his team stay in the top league.

Joining Benfica and Becoming a Star

When he was just 19, Mantorras signed with Benfica, one of Portugal's biggest clubs. He made a fantastic impression in his first season. People started to notice him, and even famous clubs like FC Barcelona and Inter Milan were interested in him.

Many people thought he was the best player to come from Portuguese-speaking African countries since the legendary Eusébio. Eusébio himself praised Mantorras, saying he had "special qualities" and a "great future."

Battling Injuries and Making a Comeback

In 2002, Mantorras faced a huge challenge. He got a very serious knee injury that almost ended his career. He spent about two and a half years recovering and had four surgeries to fix his knee.

He finally returned to playing in the 2004–05 season. He played an important part as Benfica won the national championship, which was their first league title in 11 years! He scored five goals in just 15 matches, with four of those goals coming in the last two months of the season.

A Fan Favorite at Benfica

Even after his recovery, Mantorras found it hard to get a regular spot in the starting team. He played in only a few games over the next few seasons. However, he remained incredibly popular with the fans. They loved him, and he even said he would stay at the club even if he wasn't paid, showing his loyalty.

Benfica won the league again in 2009–10. Mantorras didn't play much that season, but he was still part of the team's success. In early 2011, just before his 29th birthday, he announced he was retiring from professional football. He tried to make a short comeback with another club, C.D. Primeiro de Agosto, but it wasn't successful.

Life After Playing: Ambassador and Testimonial Match

In June 2012, Mantorras returned to Benfica, but this time as a club ambassador. This means he represents the club and helps with public relations.

The next month, on July 18, 2012, he had a special "testimonial match" at Benfica's stadium, the Estádio da Luz. This is a game played to honor a player's career. He played against a team of "All-Stars" that included many famous footballers like Luís Figo, Edgar Davids, Ronaldo, and Fabio Cannavaro. Mantorras even scored a goal in their 5–1 win! After the match, he thanked the fans for all their support throughout his career.

Mantorras's International Career

Playing for Angola's Youth Team

Mantorras first represented Angola at 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 in the tournament.

Representing Angola at the World Cup

He became a full international player for Angola when he was 19. He was part of the Angolan national team that made history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the very first time in 2006. At the World Cup, he played in two matches, coming on as a substitute. One of these games was a close 0–1 loss against Portugal.

Africa Cup of Nations

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

Mantorras's Personal Life and Charity Work

Soon after joining Benfica, Mantorras made a promise to help others. He said he would donate a large part of his earnings to create a home for street children in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

He understood their struggles because of his own experiences. He shared that his father passed away when he was very young, and his mother died when he was 16. This meant he had to take care of his brother and become the head of his family at a young age. He faced many difficulties early in his life. He wanted to use his improved situation to help those who were less fortunate.

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