Rúben Micael Freitas da Ressureição (born 19 August 1986), known as Micael, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
He totalled 206 Primeira Liga games and 19 goals over ten seasons, representing Nacional, Porto, Braga, Paços de Ferreira and Vitória de Setúbal, winning seven major honours with the second team and a further one with the third. He also had spells in Spain, China and Israel.
In that first year, in which Nacional qualified for the UEFA Europa League, Micael, almost never an undisputed starter, featured heavily, scoring notably in a 3–1 home win against S.L. Benfica on 2 May 2009.[3] The previous month, he played for Portugal B in a 2–0 victory over Romania.[4]
Micael started the 2009–10 campaign established in the side's starting XI, notably netting twice against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Europa League's last qualifying round, first in the 4–3 home win[5] then adding a last-minute goal in Russia for the 1–1 draw.[6]
Porto
In mid-January 2010, FC Porto purchased 60% of Micael's playing rights for a €3 million transfer fee, signing him to a four-and-a-half-year deal and setting his release clause at €30 million.[7] His first league game for his new club came on 30 January, where he started in the place of the suspended Raul Meireles in a 4–0 away defeat of his former team, Nacional.[8]
In 2010–11, Micael was used sparingly by new manager André Villas-Boas. Nonetheless, he still appeared in 36 official matches and totalled 871 minutes of action (four goals, three in the Europa League campaign) as the team won the treble.[9]
On 18 August 2011, Micael and Porto teammate Radamel Falcao were both purchased by Atlético Madrid for €45 million – the former for €5 million,[10] although Porto later confirmed that his sale did not generate any revenue for the club.[11] The midfielder was then immediately loaned to fellow La Liga side Real Zaragoza,[12] for a fee of €750,000. 23 of his appearances were as a starter, as his team narrowly avoided relegation.[13]
Micael was loaned to S.C. Braga for 2012–13,[14] starting the year in impressive fashion: in two games separated by only three days in late August, he scored three goals, starting with a brace in a 3–1 home victory against S.C. Beira-Mar[15] then netting the 1–1 equaliser at Udinese Calcio in the UEFA Champions Leaguelast qualifying round. In the latter match, he rounded up his performance by converting the decisive penalty in the shootout to help his team reach the group stage for the second time in their history.[16]
Micael continued his strong displays in the Champions League group phase, scoring the first goal in an eventual 2–0 away win over Galatasaray SK in the second round.[17] On 20 October 2012, Atlético sold 50% of his economic rights to Braga for €3 million.[13]
On 16 January 2018, Micael returned to Portugal's top flight, signing for F.C. Paços de Ferreira until 2021.[23] In June, however, he switched to a one-year deal at Vitória F.C. under his former Maccabi manager Lito Vidigal.[24]
At the end of his contract in Setúbal, Micael returned to Nacional after nine years away; the 33-year-old was their first signing, following relegation in May 2019.[25] Two years later, having experienced another promotion and relegation, he announced his retirement.[26]
International career
On 29 March 2011, Micael made his debut for Portugal, starting and scoring twice in a 2–0 friendly victory over Finland in Aveiro.[27] He was chosen by coach Paulo Bento for UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine,[28] but played no matches for the semi-finalists.
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
