Francisco Leonel Lima Silva Machado (born 19 July 1995), known as Chiquinho, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Super League Greece club Olympiacos.
Born in Santo Tirso, Porto District, Chiquinho finished his youth career with Leixões SC.[2] He made his senior debut on 30 July 2014, playing 62 minutes in a 3–0 home win against C.D. Santa Clara in the first round of the Taça da Liga.[3] His Segunda Liga bow occurred on 27 August in a 1–1 home draw with C.D. Tondela,[4] and his first league goal was only scored two years later in a 1–2 loss to FC Porto B also at the Estádio do Mar.[5]
In February 2017, Leixões accepted NK Lokomotiva's offer of €200,000, and Chiquinho signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Croatian club.[6] His first match took place on 25 February, as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 First Football League home victory over NK Osijek.[7]
Chiquinho joined Académica de Coimbra in July 2017 on a one-year loan, with an option to make the move permanent,[8] which eventually befell[9] only for the player to move to S.L. Benfica on a five-year deal on 28 May 2018.[10][2] He was subsequently sold to Moreirense FC, with Benfica retaining 50% of his economic rights.[11]
On 12 August 2018, Chiquinho made his debut in the Primeira Liga, featuring the entire 1–3 home defeat against Sporting CP.[12] He totalled ten goals in his only season in Moreira de Cónegos,[13] the first being the only in the third round of the Taça de Portugal to oust Associação Recreativa de São Martinho.[14]
Chiquinho returned to Benfica on 1 July 2019, signing a contract until 2024.[15] In his first official appearance, against Sporting CP in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira on 4 August, he completed a 5–0 rout after having replaced Gabriel in the 82nd minute.[16]
On 31 August 2021, Chiquinho was loaned to fellow top-tier side S.C. Braga without a buying option.[17] The following February, also on loan, he joined Giresunspor of the Turkish Süper Lig.[18]
Returned to the Estádio da Luz for the 2022–23 campaign, Chiquinho was initially deemed surplus to requirements.[19] However, after Enzo Fernández's departure to Chelsea in the winter transfer window, he became an important member of the Roger Schmidt-led squad,[20][21] contributing 25 games and one goal to the league champions.[22][23]
On 20 January 2024, Chiquinho joined Super League Greece club Olympiacos FC.[24][25] He scored his first goal on 11 April, in a 3–2 home win over Fenerbahçe S.K. in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League.[26]
Benfica
Olympiacos
Individual