Madjer

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.[1] He became the first player to score 1000 international beach soccer career goals in an 8–1 win against England in September 2016.

For the Algerian footballer born in 1958, see Rabah Madjer.
Madjer
Personal information
Full name João Victor Saraiva
Date of birth (1977-01-22) 22 January 1977
Place of birth Luanda, Angola
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Cavalieri del Mare
2003 Pernambuco
2008 Milano Beach Soccer
2008 Rio de Janeiro
2009 Cavalieri del Mare
2010–2012 Sporting CP
2010 São Paulo
2010 AS Roma
2010 Torres Novas
2010 Lokomotiv Moscow
2011 Alanya Team
2011 Al-Ahli Dubai
2012 Botafogo
2012–2013 Beşiktaş
2013–2014 Lokomotiv Moscow
2014–2019 Sporting CP
International career‡
1998–2019 Portugal 573 (1077)
Medal record
Representing  Portugal
Men's Beach Soccer
European Games
Gold medal – first place2019 Minsk
Bronze medal – third place2015 Baku
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
Silver medal – second place1999 Brazil
Gold medal – first place2001 Brazil
Silver medal – second place2002 Brazil
Bronze medal – third place2003 Brazil
Bronze medal – third place2004 Brazil
Silver medal – second place2005 Brazil
Bronze medal – third place2008 France
Bronze medal – third place2009 UAE
Bronze medal – third place2011 Italy
Gold medal – first place2015 Portugal
Gold medal – first place2019 Paraguay
Euro Beach Soccer League
Bronze medal – third place1998
Bronze medal – third place1999
Silver medal – second place2000
Silver medal – second place2001
Gold medal – first place2002
Bronze medal – third place2003
Silver medal – second place2004
Silver medal – second place2005
Silver medal – second place2006
Gold medal – first place2007
Gold medal – first place2008
Silver medal – second place2009
Gold medal – first place2010
Bronze medal – third place2011
Silver medal – second place2013
Bronze medal – third place2014
Gold medal – first place2015
Euro Beach Soccer Cup
Gold medal – first place1998
Silver medal – second place1999
Gold medal – first place2001
Gold medal – first place2002
Gold medal – first place2003
Gold medal – first place2004
Bronze medal – third place2005
Gold medal – first place2006
Bronze medal – third place2007
Bronze medal – third place2009
Silver medal – second place2010
Silver medal – second place2012
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 July 2015
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 December 2019

In 2019, he was considered, by the prestigious magazine France Football, to be the best beach soccer player of all time.[2]

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.[3] 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 golden boot for most goals scored in the tournament, and, he also was the MVP of EBSL last season in 1999, 2006, 2008 and 2009.

He retired from the sport after winning the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in a victory over Italy. [4]

Statistics

Honours

Club
Cavalieri del Mare Beach Soccer
  • Scudetto: 2005
Sporting Clube de Portugal
  • Circuito Nacional de Futebol de Praia: 2010, 2016
FC Lokomotiv Moscow[5][6]
Alanya[7]
  • Turkish National Beach Soccer Championship: 2011
Al-Ahli Club
  • UAE National Beach Soccer Championship: 2012, 2013, 2014
  • UAE President's Cup: 2014
  • UAE Supercup: 2014
Beşiktaş J.K.
  • Turkish National Beach Soccer Championship: 2013

Country

Individual

References
  1. "Madjer: I'll be proud to represent Portugal and beach soccer". FIFA. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  2. https://www.zerozero.pt/news.php?id=265748(in+Portuguese)
  3. Webb, Tom. "Portugal Beach Soccer Star Madjer Scores Outrageous Bicycle-Kick Goal". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  4. "Thanks for the memories – Beach Soccer Worldwide".
  5. "Beach Soccer RÚssia: Lokomotiv Moscou Conquista o TÍtulo da TaÇa da RÚssia!" [Beach Soccer Russia: Lokomotiv Moscow Wins Russian Cup Title] (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  6. "Lokomotiv become Russian Champions". BSWW. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  7. "BEACH SOCCER Record-Turquia". record. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012.
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