Heltton Matheus

Heltton Matheus
Personal information
Full name Heltton Matheus Cardoso Rodrigues
Date of birth (1994-03-24) 24 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Naft Al-Basra
Youth career
2014–2016 São Gonçalo FC [pt]
2017 Paulista
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Audax-SP
2017 → Vai-Vai [pt] (loan)
2019 → Audax-RJ (loan)
2021 Friburguense
2021 Macaé
2021 Maricá
2022 União Frederiquense
2022 Sampaio Corrêa-RJ
2022 7 de Abril [pt]
2023 Pacajus
2023 Maricá
2023– Naft Al-Basra
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 January 2024

Heltton Matheus Cardoso Rodrigues (born 24 March 1994), better known as Heltton Matheus, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Naft Al-Basra.

Career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Heltton began his career in the youth teams São Gonçalo FC

In 2017, he gained national attention when he falsified his identity to play in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Jr. for Paulista de Jundiaí. Under the name "Brendon", the athlete, who at the time was already 22 years old, competed in the competition claiming to be 19 years old. As Paulista had a great campaign in the competition and ended up qualifying for the final, Heltton was identified by other players who have played with him at São Gonçalo FC, and reported. Paulista was eliminated from the competition and Heltton was severely attacked by the media.[1]

Sports commentator and football director at Grêmio Osasco Audax, former athlete Vampeta committed to giving the player a contract at the club, claiming that even with the mistake made, Heltton was not a criminal.[2] Subsequently, Heltton received the punishment of 1 year away from professional football.[3]

Returning to football in 2019, he was part of the champion squad of the Campeonato Paulista Série A3 with Audax.[4] Afterwards, he played for some clubs in Rio de Janeiro, União Frederiquense-RS and Pacajus. He currently defends Naft Al-Basra SC in Iraq.

Honours

Audax

References

  1. ^ "Paulista e empresário registram B.O contra o jogador suspeito de ser "gato"". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 23 January 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Vampeta abre as portas do Audax para "gato" da Copinha: "não matou ninguém"". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 24 April 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Suspenso por um ano, gato da Copinha é emprestado para time de escola de samba". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 9 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Campeão da 3ª divisão de SP, Heltton celebra volta por cima na carreira: "Gratidão"". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 6 May 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2024.