Licá

Early years

Born in Lamelas, Castro Daire, Licá joined Académica de Coimbra from the lower leagues in 2007, aged 19. He appeared rarely for the club over two Primeira Liga seasons, also being loaned to another modest side, G.D. Tourizense, during his contract; he scored his first goal in the top division on 22 February 2009, helping to a 3–1 home win against C.S. Marítimo. In the 2010 January transfer window, Licá moved on loan to C.D. Trofense in the Segunda Liga, netting five goals in 27 games in his first full season as the Trofa team narrowly missed on promotion. From 2011 to 2013, he represented G.D. Estoril Praia; after finding the net on 12 occasions in his first year, being essential as his team returned to the top flight after seven years, he added six in all 30 matches in the second to help them overachieve for a final fifth position, with the subsequent qualification for the UEFA Europa League.

Porto

Licá signed for FC Porto on 29 May 2013, agreeing to a four-year contract. He scored his first official goal for his new team on 10 August, the first in a 3–0 victory over Vitória S.C. in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. On 1 August 2014, deemed surplus to requirements as practically all Portuguese players by new manager Julen Lopetegui, Licá was loaned to La Liga club Rayo Vallecano in a season-long move. He made his debut in the competition on 21 September, starting in a 4–2 away loss to Villarreal CF.

Nottingham Forest

On 31 August…

Licá was part of the Portugal under-21 team that took silver at the 2009 Lusofonia Games on home soil. He played all four matches, scoring in a 4–1 win over Angola on the final day. On 10 September 2013, shortly after having moved to Porto, Licá made his debut for the senior national team, playing the last six minutes of a 3–1 friendly loss to Brazil at the Gillette Stadium in the United States.

Licá's father and his older brother Pedro Jorge were also footballers. While the latter spent a couple of youth years at Boavista FC, both mainly played for local amateur clubs.

Estoril

Segunda Liga: 2011–12 Porto

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2013 Lamelas

Divisão de Honra: 2022–23 Supertaça AF Viseu: 2023 Taça AF Viseu: 2025–26 Portugal U21

Lusofonia Games: Silver medal 2009 Individual

Segunda Liga Player of the Year: 2011–12