Ariza Makukula

Ariza Makukula

Personal information
Full name	Ariza Makukula
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 3+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	SL Benfica
Number	38
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 October 2007

Ariza Makukula (born March 4 1981 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a Portuguese international football player of (DR) Congolese descent. He is the son of a Portuguese mother and a Congolese father. He was on loan to Portuguese side C.S. Marítimo, in the BWINLIGA, from Spanish team Sevilla but after scoring 7 goals in 13 games, Makukula transferred to SL Benfica for 3,5 million Euros for 4 and a half years. He plays as a striker. He scored in the 1-0 victory against 1.FC Nürnberg on February 15, 2008, in the UEFA Cup.

International career

He played for the Portuguese U-21s and took part in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

He decided to represent DR Congo, but a FIFA amended rule regarding international careers came out in 2005, stating that change in nationality representation must occur before a player's 21st birthday and if they have not yet gained their first full cap, so Makukula cannot play for any national team other than Portugal (was 23 at time of rule). On 17 October 2007, Makukula was called up for the first time in his career to represent Portugal (against Kazakhstan) at senior level, due to his fine form at club level with Marítimo and an unfortunate injury to striker Nuno Gomes, scoring an 84th minute opener, in a 2-1 victory, to celebrate his debut in style.

Honours

• Uefa Cup 2006