Portuguese footballer
Arsénio Martins Lafuente Nunes (born 30 August 1989), known simply asArsénio , is a Portuguese professionalfootballer who plays as awinger forLiga Portugal 2 clubLusitânia .
Born inEsposende ,Braga District , Arsénio began playing football with localA.D. Esposende , signing withFC Porto at the age of 12 and completing his development withLeixões SC . He spent his first four years as a senior in the lower leagues, withPadroense FC ,C.S. Marítimo B andG.D. Ribeirão .[ 2]
Arsénio signed withC.F. Os Belenenses in summer 2012, playing his first match as a professional on 11 August and scoring once in a 3–1 home win againstC.D. Feirense in theSegunda Liga .[ 3] He contributed 42 games and five goals duringthe season ,[ 4] helping theLisbon club to return to thePrimeira Liga after three years.[ 5]
Arsénio made his debut in the top tier on 18 August 2013, coming on as a 46th-minutesubstitute in a 0–3 home loss toRio Ave FC .[ 6] In the followingtransfer window , he was loaned toMoreirense F.C. of division two,[ 2] scoring three times[ 7] [ 8] as his teamachieved promotion as champions .[ 9] Subsequently, the move was made permanent for two years.[ 10]
On 18 June 2015, Arsénio joined Bulgarian sidePFC Litex Lovech .[ 11] His first competitive appearance took place on 2 July, as he featured 77 minutes of the 1–1 draw atFK Jelgava in thefirst qualifying round of theUEFA Europa League .[ 12] He scored his first goal inthe league later that month, in a 2–2 away draw againstPFC Levski Sofia .[ 13]
On 1 July 2017, Arsénio returned to Portugal, its top division and Moreirense by signing a two-year contract.[ 14] On 30 December, he scored once and provided anassist in a 3–3 home draw againstVitória S.C. in thegroup stage of theTaça da Liga .[ 15] He added three decisive passes on 2 November 2018, being votedplayer of the match in the 3–1 away victory overS.L. Benfica in the domestic league.[ 16]
On 6 December 2020, afterone season in theSaudi Pro League withAl-Fayha Club , Arsénio went back to his homeland on a deal atF.C. Arouca .[ 17] He contributed six goals and as many assists to help the latter club toreturn to the top flight via the play-offs, and subsequently renewed his link.[ 18]
Arsénio then spent one and a half seasons in the second division withU.D. Leiria .[ 19] [ 20] In February 2025, the 35-year-old moved down toLiga 3 withLusitânia FC ,[ 21] earning another promotion in hisdebut campaign as champion[ 22] and agreeing a to a new contract until June 2026.[ 23]
International career [ edit ] Arsénio representedPortugal at under-19 level . He was ofMozambican descent .[ 24]
Belenenses
Moreirense
Lusitânia
^a b c d "Arsénio" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved8 March 2021 .^a b Resendes, Manuel (9 January 2014)."Mercado: Arsénio cedido pelo Belenenses ao Moreirense" [Market: Arsénio loaned by Belenenses to Moreirense] (in Portuguese). Futebol 365. Retrieved31 October 2022 . ^ "Belenenses-Feirense, 3–1: Equipa do Restelo entra com o pé direito" [Belenenses-Feirense, 3–1: Restelo team start off on the right foot].Record (in Portuguese). 11 August 2012. Archived fromthe original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved20 November 2015 .^ Gonçalves, Álvaro (30 October 2015)."Arsénio: "Gostava de ter feito e mostrado mais na Primeira Liga" " [Arsénio: "I wish I had done and showed more in the First League"] (in Portuguese). Zerozero. Retrieved7 October 2025 . ^a b "Belenenses um clube de Lisboa" [Belenenses a Lisbon club].Record (in Portuguese). 6 May 2013. Retrieved20 November 2015 .^ "Rio Ave inicia campeonato com triunfo no Restelo" [Rio Ave start championship with win at the Restelo] (in Portuguese).TSF . 18 August 2013. Retrieved6 September 2017 .^ "Benfica B empata no regresso de Carlos Martins" [Benfica B draw in return of Carlos Martins].Record (in Portuguese). 7 February 2014. Archived fromthe original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved20 November 2015 .^ "Moreirense-Portimonense, 3–0: Novo líder mostra-se" [Moreirense-Portimonense, 3–0: New leaders show off].Record (in Portuguese). 23 March 2014. Archived fromthe original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved20 November 2015 .^a b "Moreirense regressa à Primeira Liga" [Moreirense return toPrimeira Liga ].Record (in Portuguese). 19 April 2014. Archived fromthe original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved20 November 2015 .^ "Arsénio garantido até 2016" [Arsénio confirmed until 2016].Record (in Portuguese). 9 July 2014. Archived fromthe original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved20 November 2015 .^ "Португалецът Арсенио подписа с Литекс" [Portuguese Arsénio signed with Litex] (in Bulgarian). PFC Litex. 18 June 2015. Archived fromthe original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved13 September 2015 .^ "Jelgava 1–1 Litex" . UEFA. 2 July 2015. Retrieved20 November 2015 .^ "Без победител в дербито между Левски и Литекс (ВИДЕО)" [No winner in derby between Levski Sofia and Litex (VIDEO)] (in Bulgarian). Sporta. 25 July 2015. Retrieved7 April 2016 .^ "Arsénio garantido por 2 anos" [Arsénio confirmed for 2 years] (in Portuguese). Moreirense F.C. 1 July 2017. Archived fromthe original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved1 July 2017 .^ "Moreirense e Vitória de Guimarães empatam na despedida da Taça da Liga" [Moreirense and Vitória de Guimarães draw in League Cup farewell] (in Portuguese).SAPO . 30 December 2017. Retrieved5 November 2025 .^ Castro Martins, Luís (2 November 2018)."Benfica-Moreirense, 1–3 (destaques)" [Benfica-Moreirense, 1–3 (highlights)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved5 November 2025 . ^ "Ex-jogador do Moreirense Arsénio assina pelo Arouca" [Former Moreirense player Arsénio signs for Arouca].O Minho (in Portuguese). 6 December 2020. Retrieved5 November 2025 .^ Soares da Silva, Eduardo (3 June 2021)."Arsénio foi uma das figuras do Arouca e mantém-se no clube na I Liga" [Arsénio was one of Arouca's stars and remains at the club in the I League] (in Portuguese).Rádio Renascença . Retrieved5 November 2025 . ^ "OFICIAL: Arsénio deixa Arouca e reforça Leiria" [OFFICIAL: Arsénio leaves Arouca and bolsters Leiria] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 8 July 2023. Retrieved5 November 2025 .^ Mata, Wilson (31 January 2025)."Nabian e Arsénio deixam U. Leiria" [Nabian and Arsénio leave U. Leiria].Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved5 November 2025 . ^ "Lourosa contrata Arsénio para "atacar" a subida" [Lourosa sign Arsénio to "attack" promotion].Diário de Aveiro (in Portuguese). 1 February 2025. Retrieved5 November 2025 .^a b "Dos distritais à Liga 2 em oito anos: o despertar do leão de Lourosa" [From the regionals to League 2 in eight years: the lion of Lourosa awakens].A Bola (in Portuguese). 8 May 2025. Retrieved5 November 2025 .^ Albuquerque, João (29 May 2025)."Arsénio Nunes vai renovar com o Lusitânia de Lourosa por mais uma época" [Arsénio Nunes will renew with Lusitânia de Lourosa for another season].Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved5 November 2025 . ^ Uamusse, Elísio (18 July 2023)."Três naturalizados para os Mambas prontos para o Benim" [Three naturalised for Mambas ready for Benin].O País (in Portuguese). Retrieved17 November 2023 .