Carlos Manuel Santos Fortes

Braga

Born in Charneca, Lisbon metropolitan area, Fortes started his senior career in Spain with Racing de Santander's reserves in the Tercera División. He then returned to Portugal after signing with Braga, being assigned to their B team and spending two full seasons in the Segunda Liga with them, scoring 11 goals in 2015–16. Fortes played his only competitive match with the first team on 13 March 2016, featuring 90 minutes in the 3–0 away loss against Belenenses in the Primeira Liga. He split the 2016–17 campaign on loan, with Şanlıurfaspor (Turkish TFF First League) and Vizela (Portuguese second division); a permanent move was later agreed with the latter club.

Romania

In the following years, Fortes plied his trade in Romania, appearing for Gaz Metan Mediaș and Universitatea Craiova. He scored his first goal in the Liga I and top-flight football on 23 July 2018, helping hosts Gaz Metan to defeat Concordia Chiajna 2−1.

Indonesia

Fortes returned to Portugal and its second tier on 10 July 2020, joining Vilafranquense on a two-year contract. On 12 July 2021, however, he went back abroad and agreed to a one-year deal at Arema of the Liga 1 (Indonesia). He made his league debut on 5 September, starting in a 1–1 draw against PSM Makassar. He scored his first goal later that month, the game's only at Persipura Jayapura, totalling 20 over the season to help his team finish fourth in the table. On 1 April 2022, Fortes moved to PSIS Semarang of the same…

Fortes appeared with the Portugal under-20 team in the 2014 Toulon Tournament. On 25 March 2024, the 29-year-old was called up to the Cape Verde senior side to replace the injured Bebé in their 2024 FIFA Series squad. He won his first cap the following day, starting the 1–0 win over Equatorial Guinea.

As of match played 14 June 2025

Fortes' older brother, Fábio, was also a footballer and a forward.