João Manuel de Oliveira Pinto (3 August 1971 – 8 February 2024) was a Portuguese footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Club career Pinto was born in Lisbon. Having been brought up at Sporting CP, where he however never played in the main team, he achieved Primeira Liga totals of 155 games and six goals over nine seasons, with Vitória de Guimarães, G.D. Estoril Praia, Gil Vicente FC, S.C. Braga, S.C. Farense and C.S. Marítimo.
In summer 2001, aged 30, Pinto signed for Segunda Liga club Académica de Coimbra, helping to win promotion in his only season. He then moved to the lower leagues, seeing out his career in 2010 following spells with G.D. Sesimbra and G.D. Alfarim.
International career Pinto earned 61 caps for Portugal at youth level, scoring 12 times. He was part of the under-20 squad that won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal, contributing three appearances to this feat; additionally, he finished second in the 1994 edition of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
After retiring, Pinto worked with the Portuguese Football Federation in directorial capacities.
Death Pinto died from leukemia on 8 February 2024, aged 52.
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