{{short description|Portuguese footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Messias |image = Benfica in Rotterdam voor Europacupwedstrijd tegen Feyenoord aantal Benficaspele, Bestanddeelnr 925-4359.jpg |caption = Messias (third from right) in 1972 |fullname = Messias Júlio Timula<ref name=Bio>{{WorldFootball.net|messias-timula}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date|1948|12|18|df=y}}<ref name=Bio/> |birth_place = Maputo, Mozambique<ref name=Bio/> |death_date = {{death date and age|1998|2|18|1948|12|18|df=y}}<ref name=Bio/> |height = 1.82 m<ref name=Bio/> |position = Centre-back |youthclubs1 = | youthyears1 = |years1 = 1967–1977 | clubs1 = Benfica | caps1 = 89 | goals1 = 1 |years2 = 1977 | clubs2 = Rochester Lancers | caps2 = 15 | goals2 = 0 |years3 = 1977–1978 | clubs3 = Riopele | caps3 = 4 | goals3 = 0 |totalcaps = 108 | totalgoals = 1 |nationalyears1 = 1972 | nationalteam1 = Portugal | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }} '''Messias Júlio Timula''' (18 December 1948 – 18 February 1998), known simply as '''Messias''', was a Portuguese footballer who played as a central defender.
==Club career== Born in Maputo, Portuguese Mozambique, Messias arrived at S.L. Benfica in 1967 as a 19-year old.<ref name=Memorial>{{cite book|title=Memorial Benfica 100 Glórias|trans-title=Benfica Memorial, 100 glories|publisher=QuidNovi|first=João|last=Malheiro|language=pt|date=July 2006|edition=Third|page=97|isbn=978-972-8998-26-4}}</ref> Facing competition from Raúl Machado, Zeca and Humberto Coelho, he spent his first two seasons in the reserve team.<ref name=Memorial/>
On 21 November 1969, Messias made his first appearance for the main squad, replacing Coelho in the 53rd minute of a 1–0 away loss to Vitória de Setúbal.{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=351}} He would play two more games in the same season – a European Cup match against Celtic on 26 November{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=355}} and a league one with U.F.C.I. Tomar on 1 December.{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=356}}
After remaining a backup player in 1970–71,{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=364}} Messias had his breakthrough the following campaign, playing 26 matches in all competitions and winning the Primeira Liga title, the Portuguese Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup.{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=365}}{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=371}} Due to strong competition from Amândio Malta da Silva and Rui Rodrigues, his playing time in 1972–73 and 1973–74 dropped;{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=377}}{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=383}} after his competition either left or lost influence, he regained a pivotal role alongside Coelho and won three more league titles, the first two as starter.{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=390}}{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=396}}{{sfn|Tovar|2012|p=402}}
In 1977, after 123 overall appearances, Messias left Benfica and followed many teammates to the North American Soccer League.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://casacomum.org/cc/visualizador?pasta=06826.176.27784#!16|title=States|newspaper=Diário de Lisboa|language=pt|date=10 March 1977|access-date=12 April 2017|page=16|issue=19298}}</ref> He took part in 15 games during his spell, reaching the Conference Championship final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/T/Timula.Messias.htm|title=Messias Timula|publisher=NASL Jerseys|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> He then returned to Portugal, playing for G.D. Riopele in their debut season in the top flight and retiring immediately after.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://casacomum.org/cc/visualizador?pasta=06827.177.27914#!17|title=Messias voltou|trans-title=Messias returned|newspaper=Diário de Lisboa|language=pt|date=12 August 1977|access-date=12 April 2017|page=17|issue=19428}}</ref>
==International career== Messias received his first call up to the Portugal national team when they were selected to appear in the Brazil Independence Cup in 1972. After solid performances at club level, he made his debut on 18 June of that year against Chile, playing all of the remaining games in the tournament including the lost final to Brazil,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/braz-indep72.html|title=Brazil Independence Cup 1972|publisher=RSSSF|first=Macario|last=Reyes|access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref> which would be his last cap.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/geral/selecao/lista-completa-dos-internacionais-portugueses|title=Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses|trans-title=Complete list of Portuguese internationals|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=18 February 2004|access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>
==Honours== '''Benfica''' *Primeira Liga: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77<ref name=Memorial/> *Taça de Portugal: 1971–72<ref name=Memorial/>
==References== '''General''' *{{cite book|first=Rui Miguel|last=Tovar|title=Almanaque do Benfica|publisher=Lua de Papel|location=Portugal|year=2012|isbn=978-989-23-2087-8}}
'''Specific''' {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{ForaDeJogo}} *{{NFT player}} *{{Eu-Football.info|13819}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Messias Timula}} Category:1948 births Category:1998 deaths Category:Portuguese people of Mozambican descent Category:20th-century Portuguese sportsmen Category:Mozambican men's footballers Category:Portuguese men's footballers Category:Footballers from Maputo Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Primeira Liga players Category:S.L. Benfica footballers Category:G.D. Riopele players Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players Category:Rochester Lancers (1967–1980) players Category:Portugal men's international footballers Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in the United States