Mário João Sousa Alves (born 6 June 1935), known as Mário João, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a right or left-back. He appeared in 166 Primeira Liga matches in ten seasons, scoring 11 goals.

Club career

Born in Barreiro, Setúbal District, Mário João started and finished his 14-year senior career with G.D. CUF, beginning as a forward. In between, he spent seven years with S.L. Benfica in the Primeira Liga, appearing in 89 competitive matches and winning six major titles, including both of the European Cup finals in the early 60s, against FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Mário João retired in 1968, aged 33. He was never a full-time professional footballer, earning the vast majority of his wages from the Companhia União Fabril.

International career

Mário João won three caps for Portugal in four years. His first arrived on 22 May 1960, in a 5–1 away defeat to Yugoslavia for the 1960 European Nations' Cup qualifiers.

Honours

Benfica