Zezinho (Bissau-Guinean footballer)


José Luís Mendes Lopes, known as Zezinho, is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Saudi Arabian club Damac FC and the Guinea-Bissau national team.

Club career

Born in Bissau, Zezinho finished his development with Sporting CP after joining its youth system at the age of 16. He made his debut as a senior in the 2011–12 season, being loaned to Atlético Clube de Portugal and helping them to the ninth position in the Segunda Liga.
Subsequently, returned to the Estádio José Alvalade, Zezinho appeared almost exclusively with the B-team during his tenure. His maiden Primeira Liga appearance occurred on 13 January 2013, as he came on as a 75th-minute substitute for Zakaria Labyad in a 2–0 away win against S.C. Olhanense; he served a further two loans before being released in June 2016, at Veria F.C. from the Superleague Greece and Cypriot First Division club AEL Limassol.

International career

Zezinho earned his first cap for Guinea-Bissau on 4 September 2010 –19 days before his 18th birthday – in a 1–0 home win over Kenya for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Selected to the 2017 edition of the tournament by manager Baciro Candé, he featured in three games in an eventual group stage exit.

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.5 September 201524 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau1–32–42017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.4 June 201624 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau1–03–22017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification