
José Vitor
Lima Cardoso

Nacional
Number
Zé Vitor: Athlete's Biography

After finding it difficult to establish himself in the Brazilian leagues, Zé Vitor made the crucial decision to cross the Atlantic and join C.D. Nacional in Portugal. This move proved to be transformative for his carrer. The Portuguese Primeira Liga offered him a fresh start. He grabbed this opportunity with both hands.
During the 2024/2025 season, the Brazilian centre-back has made 30 appearances and scored 2 goals for Nacional, demonstrating his worth to the squad. Throughout his career, he's netted 6 goals across sixty four matches, showing he can contribute at set pieces when needed. His ability to pop up with important goals has added another dimension to his game.
What's remarkable about Zé Vitor is how quickly he adapted to European footbal after struggling in his native Brazil. Finding his "footballing home" in Portugal has allowed him to showcase his true abilities. The stability he's found at Nacional has been crucial for his development as a defender who reads the game well.
José Vitor Lima Cardoso, better known as Zé Vitor, is a Brazilian central defender currently showcasing his defensive prowess for "CD Nacional" in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. Standing at 189cm, this towering Brazilian has established himself as a cornerstone for his club's defense, participating in an impressive 94% of their matces. Born in Goiânia, Brazil on February 9, 2001, the twenty-three-year-old defender has been turning heads with his intelligent positioning and aerial dominance.
While Zé Vitor might not have a cabinet full of trophies yet, his consistent performances for "CD Nacional" deserve recognition. He has started in 94% of their matches, an impressive stat that highlights both his importance to the team and his physical durability. For a young defender, such reliability is a valuable asset.
His successful transition from struggling in the Brazilian leagues to finding stability and regular playing time in Portuguese futbol represents a significant personal achievement. Many Brazilian talents fail to adapt when moving to Europe, but Zé Vitor has bucked that trend.
Scoring 2 goals in 30 appearances during the 2024/2025 season shwos his ability to contribute beyond his defensive duties. Throughout his career, he's managed six goals in 64 matches, a respectable return for a centre-back at this stage of his development.
While still early in his professional journey, Zé Vitor has already demonstrated the importance of perseverance in footballers' careers. His story of leaving home at 17, struggling in Brazilian leagues, and then finding success in Portugal serves as an inspiration for young defenders facng similar challenges.
His stabilizing presence in "CD Nacional's" defense has been crucial for the club's performance. The Brazilian centre-back has become a key figure in the team's tactical setup, proving that sometimes players need to find the right environment to fulfill their potential.
At just 23 years of age, Zé Vitor has plenty of time to further develop his skills and potentially move to even bigger clubs in Europe. His journey from Goiânia to Portugal illustrates the increasingly global nature of football talent development and how players sometimes need to leave their home countries to truly thrive. The defensive stability he provides for Nacional has been fundamental to the team's structure, and his continuing development will be interesting to watch for football observers in the coming yeers.