Carlos Fortes (footballer, born 1994)

Carlos Manuel dos Santos Fortes (born 9 November 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for China League One club Foshan Nanshi. Born in Portugal, he represents the Cape Verde national team.

Braga
Born in Charneca, Lisbon metropolitan area, Fortes started his senior career in Spain with Racing de Santander's reserves in the Tercera División. He then returned to Portugal after signing with Braga, being assigned to their B team and spending two full seasons in the Segunda Liga with them, scoring 11 goals in 2015–16.

Fortes played his only competitive match with the first team on 13 March 2016, featuring 90 minutes in the 3–0 away loss against Belenenses in the Primeira Liga. He split the 2016–17 campaign on loan, with Şanlıurfaspor (Turkish TFF First League) and Vizela (Portuguese second division); a permanent move was later agreed with the latter club.

Romania
In the following years, Fortes plied his trade in Romania, appearing for Gaz Metan Mediaș and Universitatea Craiova. He scored his first goal in the Liga I and top-flight football on 23 July 2018, helping hosts Gaz Metan to defeat Concordia Chiajna 2−1.

Indonesia
Fortes returned to Portugal and its second tier on 10 July 2020, joining Vilafranquense on a two-year contract. On 12 July 2021, however, he went back abroad and agreed to a one-year deal at Arema of the Liga 1 (Indonesia). He made his league debut on 5 September, starting in a 1–1 draw against PSM Makassar. He scored his first goal later that month, the game's only at Persipura Jayapura, totalling 20 over the season to help his team finish fourth in the table.

On 1 April 2022, Fortes moved to PSIS Semarang of the same country and league. He left the club through a letter addressed to the management in January 2024, citing the desire to be closer to his family as well as offers from the Middle East as the main reasons.

Later career
On 2 February 2024, Fortes signed a short-term deal with Al Dhafra in the UAE First Division League. In June, he agreed to a one-and-a-half-year contract at China League One club Foshan Nanshi.

International career
Fortes appeared with the Portugal under-20 team in the 2014 Toulon Tournament. On 25 March 2024, the 29-year-old was called up to the Cape Verde senior side to replace the injured Bebé in their 2024 FIFA Series squad. He won his first cap the following day, starting the 1–0 win over Equatorial Guinea.

Personal life
Fortes' older brother, Fábio, was also a footballer and a forward.

Honours
Individual
 * Liga 1 Goal of the Month: October 2021, February 2022
 * Liga 1 Best Goal: 2021–22