Carlos Saleiro

Sporting CP

Carlos Miguel Mondim Saleiro was born in Lisbon on 25 February 1986 and was the first baby in Portugal to be born through in vitro fertilisation treatment (IVF). He spent his youth at Sporting CP's youth academy, and spent the 2003–04 season with Sporting B, scoring three goals in 35 Segunda Divisão – Zona Sul (third tier) matches as they were relegated into the Terceira Divisão (fourth tier). He spent the latter half of the 2005–06 campaign on loan at Olivais e Moscavide in Segunda Divisão Série D, and though injuries limited him to just two league appearances, he managed to feature in the play-offs as the club secured promotion into the Liga de Honra (second tier). He returned to the club for the 2006–07 campaign, and scored four goals in 26 games as they were relegated in 15th place. He returned to the Liga de Honra for the 2007–08 campaign on loan at newly promoted Fátima, who were coached by Rui Vitória. He scored 11 goals in 32 league and cup appearances despite Fátima suffering relegation in last place. Despite their league form, Fátima did manage to pull off one of the biggest shock victories of their history by eliminating Porto out of the Taça da Liga on penalties. He was later voted as the second best player of the tournament, behind Cláudio Pitbull, having scored against Santa Clara, converted in the shoot-out against Porto, and scored in the club's fourth round defeat to his parent club Sporting CP. He signed a new four-year contract with…

Saleiro represented Portugal at the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He scored against England in the semi-finals, a 2–2 draw at the Estádio do Fontelo; he went on to convert his penalty in the shoot-out to help Portugal progress into the final. He also played in the final, where two goals from Márcio Sousa gave Portugal a 2–1 win over Spain to win his country a fifth UEFA European Under-17 Championship title. He also travelled to Finland for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship, where Spain exacted their revenge by eliminating Portugal at the quarter-final stage. In total he scored seven goals in 18 under-17 games. Then he won two caps at under-18 level in 2004. The following year he scored one goal in eight appearances for the under-19 team. He travelled with the Portugal under-20 squad for the 2007 Toulon Tournament, and featured in three games. He was called up to the Portugal under-21 team. He appeared in qualification games for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, scoring in a 2–0 win over Bulgaria at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques on 26 March 2008. He was called up to the Portugal under-23 squad for the 2009–11 International Challenge Trophy, and played in the final where Portugal defeated England 1–0 at Sixfields Stadium.

Olivais e Moscavide

Segunda Divisão: 2005–06 Portugal U17

UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2003 Portugal U23

International Challenge Trophy: 2009–11