Carlos Leonel


Carlos Leonel Gois Fernandes, born 28 July 1987 in Ribeira Brava, Madeira, Portugal, commonly known as Carlos Leonel, is a football player for Benfica de Macau and Macau national football team. He was the top scorer in the 2016 and 2017 Liga de Elite. He also helped Benfica de Macau win the Liga de Elite from 2015 to 2018.

Early career

Carlos Leonel has been a Football player since he was 6 years old. He was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, doing an exchange program when Carlos Vilar invited him to visit him in Macao and play for 3 months on Casa de Portugal in the Macau 2nd division.

Benfica de Macau

During the 2017 AFC Cup qualifying round held at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan on 21 August 2016, Benfica de Macau played Rovers FC from Guam, Carlos Leonel scored twice and Benfica de Macau won the match 4-2.
On 4 March 2017, Carlos Leonel scored a hat-trick as Benfica de Macau beat Monte Carlo FC 6-0.
On 7 March 2018, Benfica de Macau took part in the 2018 AFC Cup group stage. After losing 2 goals in the first half to Hang Yuen F.C., Carlos Leonel scored in the 61st and 63rd minutes to help the club overturn the score and won 3-2. It was Benfica de Macau's first ever win in the AFC Cup group stage. Carlos Leonel was awarded player of the match. On 16 May, Benfica de Macau beat Hwaebul Sports Club with Carlos Leonel scoring a hat-trick on the final day of the group stage. Benfica de Macau finished the second in the group.

International career

On 7 October 2016 Carlos Leonel was selected into the Macau national football team for the first time for the Hong Kong–Macau Interport.
On 5 September 2017, Carlos Leonel made his debut for Macau in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification Third Round against India, but Macau lost 0-2.
On 2 October 2017, Macau played a friendly against Laos. At 72 minutes, Carlos Leonel scored with a header, then 2 minutes later he scored again and helped Macau overturn the score. In the end Macau won the match 3-1.
On 14 November 2017 Macau played Kyrgyzstan, at 87 minutes Carlos Leonel scored, but Macau lost 3-4.

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentGoalResultCompetition
1.2 October 2017Estádio Campo Desportivo, Taipa, Macau1–13–1Friendly
2.2 October 2017Estádio Campo Desportivo, Taipa, Macau2–13–1Friendly
3.14 Nov 2017Estádio Campo Desportivo, Taipa, Macau
2–3
3–4
2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
4.2 September 2018MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
1–2
1–4
2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualification

Awards