Ricardo Martins Guimarães, known as Guima, celebrates his 28th birthday today, November 14th. The midfielder, who plays for the Turkish club Iğdır, has a special reason to celebrate: in addition to another year of life, he is preparing for his next challenge with the Mozambican national team, scheduled for tomorrow in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Born in Aveiro, Portugal, to a Portuguese father and a Mozambican mother, Guima has always had a special connection with Mozambique, culminating in his debut for the national team in September 2023. At that time, Guima showed his worth by scoring in the 3-2 victory over Benin, securing the confidence of the fans and the coaching staff.
Guima's career is marked by spells at major clubs and experiences in competitive leagues. He began his journey at UD Oliveirense in LigaPro in 2014, before transferring to Sporting CP, where he joined the reserve team. In 2017, he was loaned to Académica de Coimbra, where he excelled and scored his first LigaPro goal. He also had a spell in Poland, playing for ŁKS Łódź, and later returned to Portugal to represent GD Chaves and fight for promotion to the Primeira Liga.
Guima's debut in the top division of Portuguese football was in August 2022, for GD Chaves, against Vitória de Guimarães. However, it was the invitation to the Mozambique national team that brought him a new sense of belonging and pride, bringing him closer to his Mozambican roots.
Now, at 28 years old, Guima is experiencing a special moment in his career, celebrating his birthday on the eve of another crucial match with the Mozambique national team. Tomorrow's game will be another opportunity for him to contribute his experience and skills on the field, while trying to help his team achieve a positive result in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
May this birthday bring even more motivation to Guima, and may he continue to shine, representing Mozambique with determination and pride!
