| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Baltazar Maria Morais Júnior | ||
| Date of birth | July 17, 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | Goiânia, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1978–1979 | Atlético Goianiense | ||
| 1979–1982 | Grêmio | 78 | (46) |
| 1982 | Palmeiras | ||
| 1983 | Flamengo | 26 | (13) |
| 1984 | Palmeiras | 11 | (2) |
| 1984–1985 | Botafogo | 18 | (1) |
| 1985–1988 | Celta | 92 | (47) |
| 1988–1990 | Atlético Madrid | 77 | (53) |
| 1990–1991 | Porto | 19 | (2) |
| 1991–1993 | Rennes | 34 | (6) |
| 1993–1995 | Goiás | ||
| 1995–1996 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | 30 | (28) |
| National team | |||
| 1980–1989 | Brazil | 6 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Baltazar Maria de Morais Júnior, simply Baltazar (born 17 July 1959 in Goiânia, Goiás), is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a striker.
During an 18-year professional career, he played, other than in his country, in Spain, Portugal, France and Japan, winning several individual scoring honours. He appeared with the Brazilian national team at the 1989 Copa América.
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Baltazar started playing with hometown club Atlético Clube Goianiense. In 1979, he signed for Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, going on to score in double digits during his entire four-season spell (a best of 14 in 1980), while being an instrumental offensive unit in the club's back-to-back Rio Grande do Sul State League conquests; in the 1981's Brazilian League final against São Paulo FC, after missing a penalty kick in the first leg (2–1 home win), he scored the only goal in the second game, for the club's first-ever national championship.
In the following four years, Baltazar played for Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras (two spells), Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and Botafogo, scoring 13 goals for the second club in another Brazilian championship conquest. Aged 26, he had his first abroad experience, being relegated from the Spanish La Liga with Celta de Vigo.
In 1986–87, Baltazar propelled the Galician club back into the top level, scoring a career-best 34 goals, also a best-ever in the second division. He only found the net six times in the following season, but the club retained its division status.
Subsequently, Baltazar stayed in the country and joined Atlético Madrid, exploding for 35 goals in 36 contests in his first season - his second Pichichi in three years - and adding 18 in the following. However, after the emergence of younger Manolo, the 31-year old was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Tomislav Ivić and, in November 1990, signed for F.C. Porto in Portugal, being used almost exclusively as a substitute during his only season.
Until his retirement at the age of 37 in 1996, Baltazar played for Stade Rennais FC (France), Goiás Esporte Clube and Kyoto Purple Sanga (Japan).
Baltazar played for the Brazilian national team at the 1989 Copa América which was held on home soil, appearing in three group stage matches for the eventual winners (including the 0–0 against Colombia as a starter).[1]
However, during nearly one full decade, he only gained a total of six caps, scoring two goals.
| Club performance | League | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
| Brazil | League | |||
| 1979 | Grêmio | Série A | 16 | 10 |
| 1980 | 18 | 14 | ||
| 1981 | 21 | 10 | ||
| 1982 | 23 | 12 | ||
| 1983 | Flamengo | Série A | 26 | 13 |
| 1984 | Palmeiras | Série A | 11 | 2 |
| 1984 | Botafogo | Série A | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | 18 | 1 | ||
| Spain | League | |||
| 1985/86 | Celta | La Liga | 32 | 6 |
| 1986/87 | Segunda División | 44 | 34 | |
| 1987/88 | La Liga | 16 | 7 | |
| 1988/89 | Atlético Madrid | La Liga | 36 | 35 |
| 1989/90 | 38 | 18 | ||
| 1990/91 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Portugal | League | |||
| 1990/91 | Porto | Primeira Liga | 19 | 2 |
| France | League | |||
| 1991/92 | Stade Rennais | Ligue 1 | 34 | 6 |
| 1992/93 | Ligue 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Brazil | League | |||
| 1993 | Goiás | Série A | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | Série B | 0 | 0 | |
| Japan | League | |||
| 1995 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | Football League | 27 | 28 |
| 1996 | J. League 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| Country | Brazil | 133 | 62 | |
| Spain | 169 | 100 | ||
| Portugal | 19 | 2 | ||
| France | 34 | 6 | ||
| Japan | 30 | 28 | ||
| Total | 385 | 198 | ||
| Brazil national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 6 | 2 |
Highly religious, Baltazar was nicknamed O Artilheiro de Deus (God's striker). He became a minister after retiring from football, settling in his hometown and fathering two children.[2]
| Preceded by Hugo Sánchez |
Pichichi Trophy 1988–89 |
Succeeded by Hugo Sánchez |
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