Maciel Lima Barbosa da Cunha, simply Maciel (born 29 November 1978 in Caxias, Maranhão), is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Associação Ferroviária de Esportes as a forward.
After beginning professionally with modest Volta Redonda Futebol Clube, Maciel moved to Portugal in the 2001 summer, signing with União Desportiva de Leiria.
His impressive performances (22 goals in two full seasons) drew attention from Portuguese League giants Futebol Clube do Porto, which signed the player in the 2004 January transfer window.[1] Maciel contributed significantly to the club's domestic supremacy renewal, appearing in 18 matches and scoring three times; he could not participate, however, in the victorious UEFA Champions League campaign, being cup-tied for having played with Leiria in the season's UEFA Cup.[2]
Still a Porto until the 2007 summer,[3] Maciel would only appear twice officially for the club until the end of his link, one of them a 1–1 home draw against former side Leiria, in September 2004 (he would be loaned in succession Clube Atlético Paranaense, Leiria and Sporting Clube de Braga, amassing a further 50 matches and eight goals in Portugal's first division for the latter two). Subsequently, he signed permanently for Leiria,[4] and producing a disastrous campaign at all levels - only eight matches, no goals, and club relegation, as last.
After nearly seven consecutive years in Portugal, Maciel left for Skoda Xanthi F.C. in Greece, in another unassuming spell. He then returned to his country with lowly Associação Desportiva Cabofriense and Angra dos Reis Esporte Clube; in January 2010, he returned to his very first professional club, Volta Redonda, netting twice in his first three matches in the Campeonato Carioca.