Carlos Jorge Neto Martins

Sporting CP

Born in Oliveira do Hospital, Coimbra District, Martins was a youth product of Sporting CP, joining its system at the age of 11. He made his professional debut with modest S.C. Campomaiorense in the Segunda Liga and, from January–June 2003, was again loaned, to Primeira Liga side Académica de Coimbra. In the 2005–06 season, despite suffering from several physical problems as well as disciplinary issues, Martins was still able to score two goals in only 13 starts.

Recreativo

However, in February 2007, after several bouts of indiscipline at Sporting, coach Paulo Bento ostracised Martins for the final three months of the campaign, and although a player still under contract, moving abroad was the only option available for him and, in June, he transferred to La Liga club Recreativo de Huelva. In November, Portuguese network RTP Internacional interviewed Martins about his situation at Sporting and the player responded: "My situation with coach Bento has been a very bad one. I was constantly pressured to perform and when I did eventually get the call-up to the national side, it got so far that it almost turned into a physical confrontation". Bento denied this despite media sources releasing information of the two that went back to the manager's playing career at Sporting. Martins finished the season with seven goals in 35 competitive appearances, his only in the Copa del Rey coming in a 1–1 home draw against Xerez CD in the round of 32.

Benfica…

After Portugal finished in fourth place at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Martins, a former under-21 international, was called to the senior squad for the first time for a friendly with Denmark and a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Finland in September. He made his debut in the former fixture, on the first day of the month. Appearing rarely the following four years, Martins received a surprise callup in September 2010 for Euro 2012 qualifying campaign matches against Denmark and Iceland, as former Sporting coach Bento was in charge of the national team: he started in both games, consecutive 3–1 wins. Martins missed the final stages in Poland and Ukraine after featuring regularly in the qualifiers, having contracted an injury in late May 2012 already in training camp. Previously, he was part of the squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics, a group-stage exit in Athens.

Club

International

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Martins goal.

On 15 November 2011, during Portugal's Euro 2012 playoff home fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was announced that Martins' three-year-old son Gustavo suffered from a rare bone marrow condition, needing an urgent transplant. The player spent nearly two weeks in his country, returning to action for Granada (as a starter) in a home game against RCD Mallorca on the 20th, scoring the 1–1 equaliser and being booked shortly afterwards for a reckless challenge, with the game being eventually suspended minutes later after a 15-year-old spectator hit the assistant referee with an umbrella. Martins' younger brother, João, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He also graduated from Sporting's youth academy, but spent most of his career in the lower leagues.