Rabah madjer biography for kids

“Winning the World Cup and an Olympic gold medal are my greatest achievements”

A player who needs no introduction is Portugal’s legendary captain, but how much do you know about Madjer?

Widely considered as one of the greatest of all time, Madjer has a fascinating past that not many people know about.

João Victor Saraiva, more commonly known as Madjer after the former Algerian player Rabah Madjer, was born 22 January 1977 in Luanda, Angola.

He is the only brother to four sisters and moved to Portugal as a child where he dreamed of being a footballer.

Since then he’s won it all and has achieved countless individual honours, including becoming the first player to score 1000 international beach soccer career goals during an 8–1 win over England in September 2016.

He also represents his beloved Sporting Club de Portugal at club level to this day, as well as having played for numerous others in the past, including Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia), AS Roma (Italy) and Botafago (Brazil). 

But where did it all begin…?

“I started beach soccer in 1997 in an amateur tournament near my home in Carcavelos, Portugal.” Madjer recalls.

“At first it was strange, but after the tournament I knew that this was my sport and the national coach at that time seemed to think the same!”

Since being scouted for the national team, Madjer has done great things with Portugal. “Winning the World Cup (2015) and an Olympic gold medal (2019) are my greatest achievements. When I started I never dreamed that I could possibly win such important titles in my career.” 

The big number seven may have reached the top of beach soccer and made a fabled career out of being one of the sport’s best ever, but it wasn’t always like that…

“I worked in nightclubs and bars as a barman for nine years to earn a living before I discovered beach soccer. Since then I have been on an incredible journey an

  • Rabah madjer porto

    • Rabah Madjer

    Algerian footballer (born 1958)

    For the Portuguese beach soccer player, see Madjer.

    Rabah Mustapha Madjer (Arabic: رابح مصطفى ماجر; born 15 December 1958) is an Algerian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

    He reached stardom as a Porto player during the 1980s, being widely regarded as one of the best Algerian football players of all time. In his six-year spell with that club, he won nine major titles, including three national championships and the 1987 European Cup.

    One of the most prolific Algeria internationals in number of games and goals, Madjer played in two World Cups with his national team, helping it to its first ever participation in 1982. Having taken up coaching immediately after retiring, he managed several clubs, and also had several spells with the Algeria national team.

    Club career

    Born in the Algiers district of Hussein Dey of Kabyle origin (Tigzirt), Madjer started his European career in 1983, moving to Racing Club de France football Colombes 92 from local NA Hussein Dey. He stayed there for one and a half seasons, finishing 1984–85 with another French side, Tours FC.

    Madjer arrived at FC Porto in 1985–86 and, the following campaign, entered the club's history books in the final of the European Cup against Bayern Munich, scoring the 1–1 equalizer in a memorable final, which eventually ended 2–1 to the Portuguese, and also setting up the winner of Juary.Pelé is believed to have said of this goal: "It would have been the greatest goal I have ever seen, if he had not looked back at it." He also netted in the club's Intercontinental Cup conquest the same year.

    After that stellar 1987, Madjer won the Ballon d'or Africain, but was not allowed to compete for the European Golden Ball as he was not born in the region. In the first part of 1987–88 he scored ten times from only 11 appearances

  • Rabah madjer ballon d'or
      • Rabah madjer biography for kids

    Rabah Madjer

    No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 120 June 198019 Juin 1965, Oran, Algeria Sierra Leone3–13–11982 World Cup qualification220 July 1980Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Soviet Union Syria2–03–01980 Summer Olympics310 April 198119 Juin 1965, Oran, Algeria Mali3–05–11982 African Cup of Nations qualification44–0 51 May 198117 Juin, Constantine, Algeria Niger1–04–01982 World Cup qualification630 August 198119 Juin 1965, Oran, Algeria Upper Volta1–07–01982 African Cup of Nations qualification 72–0 830 October 198117 Juin, Constantine, Algeria Nigeria2–12–11982 World Cup qualification 925 April 19825 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria Peru1–11–1Friendly1028 April 19825 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria Republic of Ireland2–02–0Friendly 1116 June 1982El Molinón, Gijón, Spain West Germany1–02–11982 FIFA World Cup128 April 19835 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria Benin4–06–21984 African Cup of Nations qualification136–0 1426 April 1983Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin Benin1–11–11984 African Cup of Nations qualification 1510 June 19835 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria Uganda1–03–0Friendly 1628 August 19835 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria Senegal1–02–01984 African Cup of Nations qualification 1717 March 1984Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast Egypt1–03–11984 African Cup of Nations1813 July 19855 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria Zambia2–02–01986 World Cup qualification1918 August 19855 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria
  • Rabah madjer champions league

    • Madjer facts for kids

    For the Algerian footballer born in 1958, see Rabah Madjer.

    Full nameJoão Victor Saraiva
    Date of birth(1977-01-22) 22 January 1977 (age 48)
    Place of birthLuanda, Angola
    Height1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
    Playing positionForward
    YearsTeamApps(Gls)
    2002–2007Cavalieri del Mare
    2003Pernambuco
    2008Milano Beach Soccer
    2008Rio de Janeiro
    2009Cavalieri del Mare
    2010–2012Sporting CP
    2010São Paulo
    2010AS Roma
    2010Torres Novas
    2010Lokomotiv Moscow
    2011Alanya Team
    2011Al-Ahli Dubai
    2012Botafogo
    2012–2013Beşiktaş
    2013–2014Lokomotiv Moscow
    2014–2019Sporting CP
    1998–2019Portugal573(1077)
    • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 July 2015.

    † Appearances (Goals).

    ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 December 2019

    João Victor Saraiva (born 22 January 1977), better known as Madjer, is a Portuguese retired beach soccer player. He played in the forward position, and has won numerous awards at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups for his goalscoring abilities. He took the nickname Madjer because his idol is the former Algerian player Rabah Madjer. He has often been hailed as the best-ever beach soccer player. He became the first player to score 1000 international beach soccer career goals in an 8–1 win against England in September 2016.

    In 2019, he was considered, by the prestigious magazine France Football, to be the best beach soccer player of all time.

    International career

    Madjer has an extraordinary agility and dribbling talent in contrast to his height (194 cm). Besides, he is very capable in acrobatic finishes such as volleys, over-head kicks and bicycle kicks. His skills provide a vital contribution for his team while competing in EBSL, Mundialito, and above all the Beach Soccer World Championship.

    At the 2005, 2006, and 2008 World Cups Madjer won the