1. Early life and youth career
Gelson Martins was born on 11 May 1995, in Praia, Cape Verde. He relocated to Portugal during his teenage years to pursue his football development. His youth career began at C.F. Benfica, where he played from 2008 to 2010. In 2010, he joined the academy of Sporting CP, a prominent club in Portugal, where he continued to hone his skills and progress through the youth ranks. During his youth spell at Sporting, he gained recognition for a goal scored against C.F. União de Coimbra, which was widely praised. Despite his talent, his coach at Sporting B noted that Martins was being "harmed" by not consistently playing in his preferred position as a winger.
2. Club career
Gelson Martins' professional club career began at Sporting CP, where he quickly ascended from the B team to the senior squad, before moving to Atlético Madrid, Monaco, and most recently, Olympiacos.
2.1. Sporting CP
Martins' tenure at Sporting CP saw him develop from a promising youth player into a key member of the senior squad, marked by significant achievements and a controversial departure.
2.1.1. Sporting CP B
Martins was promoted to Sporting CP's B team in March 2014, signing a professional contract that extended until 2019 and included a release clause of 45.00 M EUR. He made his professional debut on 24 August 2014, as a late substitute for Lewis Enoh in a 1-0 away victory against S.C. Olhanense in the Segunda Liga. On 21 December of the same year, he scored his first professional goal in the competition, contributing to a 3-1 away win against Vitória S.C. B. During the 2014-15 season, he made 40 appearances and scored 6 goals for the B team in the Segunda Liga, helping them to a fifth-place finish.
2.1.2. Senior team and departure
In the summer of 2015, Martins was promoted to Sporting CP's main squad by newly appointed manager Jorge Jesus. He made his competitive debut for the senior team on 9 August 2015, playing in injury time during a 1-0 victory over S.L. Benfica in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, which Sporting won. His Primeira Liga debut followed on 14 August 2015, where he played for one minute in a 2-1 win against newly promoted C.D. Tondela. On 15 January 2016, in a return fixture against C.D. Tondela, Martins scored Sporting's 5,000th goal in the Primeira Liga, opening the scoring in what eventually became a 2-2 draw.
Throughout his time with the senior team, Martins became a pivotal player, contributing to several significant achievements. In the 2015-16 season, Sporting finished as Primeira Liga runners-up. The club also secured third-place finishes in the Primeira Liga in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. During the 2017-18 season, Sporting reached the final of the Taça de Portugal, finishing as runners-up, and also won the Taça da Liga (Portuguese League Cup). Additionally, the team advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2017-18 UEFA Europa League.
On 11 June 2018, Martins requested the termination of his contract with Sporting CP. This decision came after a deeply unsettling incident in May 2018, when a group of approximately 50 supporters invaded the club's training center and physically assaulted several players and staff members. This event underscored the volatile environment that players were subjected to, leading Martins, alongside other teammates, to seek an end to their contractual obligations with the club. He amassed 140 competitive appearances and scored 27 goals for Sporting CP's senior team.
2.2. Atlético Madrid
Following his departure from Sporting CP, Gelson Martins accepted an offer from Spanish club Atlético Madrid on 18 July 2018. A week later, he was officially announced as a new player for the club, having signed a five-year deal on a free transfer. However, Sporting CP filed an official complaint with FIFA regarding the transfer, demanding compensation of 100.00 M EUR, which was the release clause specified in his terminated contract. In May 2019, a resolution was reached, with Sporting announcing an agreement for 22.50 M EUR for the transfer.
Martins made his La Liga debut on 20 August 2018, coming on as a substitute for Antoine Griezmann for 18 minutes in a 1-1 away draw against Valencia CF. Two months later, on 30 October 2018, he scored his first goal for Atlético Madrid in a 1-0 victory against amateur side UE Sant Andreu in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. During his time at the Metropolitano Stadium, Martins found playing time limited under coach Diego Simeone, making only 12 official appearances and scoring 1 goal during the 2018-19 season before moving on.
2.3. Monaco
On 27 January 2019, Martins joined AS Monaco FC on loan until the end of the 2018-19 season. He made an immediate impact upon his Ligue 1 debut on 2 February, providing an assist for Aleksandr Golovin early in the first half and also being involved in Cesc Fàbregas' goal, contributing to a 2-1 home victory over Toulouse FC.
In July 2019, Martins' move to Monaco was made permanent, as he signed a five-year contract with the club. He continued to be an important player, recording 21 league appearances and 4 goals in the 2019-20 season. However, his tenure at Monaco was marred by a significant incident on 1 February 2020, during an away fixture against Nîmes Olympique. In retaliation for his teammate Tiémoué Bakayoko's ejection seconds earlier, Martins repeatedly pushed referee Mikael Lesage. This action resulted in his own immediate dismissal as his team eventually lost 3-1. For his conduct, the French League's disciplinary committee issued him a severe six-month suspension on 5 March 2020. This suspension was subsequently extended, impacting his playing time significantly.
Martins struggled for game time in the latter part of his Monaco spell. He did not participate in any competitive games during the first half of the 2023-24 campaign, indicating a decline in his role at the club. Across his loan and permanent spells, Martins made 129 appearances for Monaco, scoring 16 goals. During his time, Monaco achieved a third-place finish in the 2020-21 Ligue 1 season and reached the semi-finals of the French League Cup in 2018-19 and were runners-up in the French Cup in 2020-21.
2.4. Olympiacos
On 2 January 2024, Martins made a move to Super League Greece club Olympiacos. He signed a deal with the Greek side until June 2026, with a reported transfer fee of 3.00 M EUR. This transfer represented a new chapter in his career, as he sought to revitalize his form and contribute to the Greek champions.
3. International career
Gelson Martins has represented Portugal across various age-group national teams before making his mark with the senior national team in major international competitions.
3.1. Youth national teams
Martins was a consistent presence in Portugal's youth national teams. He was part of the Portugal squad for the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship held in Hungary. He played in all matches during the tournament, contributing significantly to Portugal's run to a runner-up finish. For his impressive performances, he was named in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament.
He continued to represent the nation at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. During this tournament, he scored goals in the group stage against Senegal and in the round of 16 against the host nation, New Zealand. Portugal ultimately exited the tournament in the quarter-finals. Martins also made appearances for Portugal's U18 (10 matches, 0 goals), U21 (5 matches, 2 goals), and U23 (1 match, 1 goal) national teams, further solidifying his status as a promising talent.
3.2. Senior national team
In late September 2016, Gelson Martins received his first call-up to the senior national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and the Faroe Islands. He earned his first cap on 7 October 2016, against Andorra, replacing Pepe for the final 18 minutes of a decisive 6-0 victory in Aveiro.
Martins was subsequently selected by manager Fernando Santos for Portugal's squad in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played in all five of Portugal's matches in the tournament (four as a substitute, one as a starter), helping the team secure a third-place finish. The following year, he was included in Portugal's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He made his World Cup debut on 20 June 2018, playing approximately 30 minutes after coming on for Bernardo Silva in a crucial 1-0 group stage victory against Morocco. Overall, Martins accumulated 21 international A-match appearances for Portugal between 2016 and 2018, without scoring a goal.
4. Style of play
Gelson Martins is primarily known as a versatile winger capable of playing on both the right and left flanks. His technical abilities allow him to operate effectively in wide attacking roles. He is also noted for his flexibility, having demonstrated the capacity to play as a right-back, a trait that was particularly beneficial during his time with Portugal's junior national teams, and occasionally as an attacking midfielder.
Martins is characterized by his exceptional dribbling skills and athleticism. His speed and agility make him a challenging opponent for defenders to track, often allowing him to bypass markers with ease. Furthermore, his ability to deliver accurate crosses poses a consistent threat to opposing defenses. Due to similarities in their playing style, Martins is often compared to fellow Portuguese winger Nani.
5. Personal life
Gelson Martins has a known family connection in the football world. His cousin, Euclides Cabral, is also a professional footballer.
6. Career statistics
6.1. Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sporting CP B | 2014-15 | Segunda Liga | 40 | 6 | - | - | - | - | 40 | 6 | ||||
| Sporting CP | 2014-15 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015-16 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 7 | ||
| 2016-17 | 32 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - | 44 | 7 | |||
| 2017-18 | 31 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 3 | - | 52 | 13 | |||
| Total | 92 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 140 | 27 | ||
| Atlético Madrid | 2018-19 | La Liga | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Monaco (loan) | 2018-19 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 |
| Monaco | 2019-20 | Ligue 1 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2020-21 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | 27 | 3 | |||||
| 2021-22 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 0 | - | 10 | 1 | - | 47 | 5 | ||||
| 2022-23 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | - | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 103 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 16 | ||
| Olympiacos | 2023-24 | Super League Greece | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 15 | 1 | |||
| 2024-25 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | - | 29 | 6 | ||||
| Total | 34 | 7 | 5 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | - | 44 | 7 | ||||
| Career total | 277 | 46 | 32 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 366 | 57 | ||
6.2. International statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 2016 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 21 | 0 | |
7. Honours
7.1. Club honours
Sporting CP
- Primeira Liga: Runner-up (2015-16), Third place (2016-17, 2017-18)
- Taça de Portugal: Runner-up (2017-18)
- Taça da Liga: 2017-18
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2015
Atlético Madrid
- UEFA Super Cup: 2018
Monaco
- Ligue 1: Third place (2020-21)
- Coupe de France: Runner-up (2020-21)
- Coupe de la Ligue: Semi-final (2018-19)
7.2. International honours
Portugal U19
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship: Runner-up (2014)
Portugal
- FIFA Confederations Cup: Third place (2017)
7.3. Individual honours
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2014
- SJPF Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2016, 2017
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2017-18