Carlos Miguel Pereira Fernandes — known simply as Cuca — has built a steady professional career across Portuguese football while representing Cape Verde on the international stage.
This article covers his estimated net worth in 2026, salary details, career history, and everything in between.
Cuca’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carlos Miguel Pereira Fernandes |
| Date of Birth | 9 January 1991 |
| Age | 35 |
| Nationality | Cape Verdean (Portuguese-born) |
| Height | 177 cm |
| Position | Defensive Midfielder |
| Current Club | CF Os Belenenses (Liga 3, Portugal) |
| Turned Professional | 2009 (AD Oeiras) |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$150,000 USD |
| Market Value | €110,000 – €121,100 (FotMob / Transfermarkt estimates) |
Early Life & Career
Carlos Miguel Pereira Fernandes was born on 9 January 1991 in Lisbon, Portugal, to a family of Cape Verdean descent.
Growing up in the Portuguese capital, he developed his football skills at the local youth academy of AD Oeiras, a modest club based in the Oeiras municipality just west of Lisbon.
He began his senior career at Oeiras in 2009, starting out in Portugal’s lower divisions. The early years were spent building experience at the grassroots level, moving between lower-league Portuguese clubs and working his way up the football pyramid.
After Oeiras, he had stints with Sociedade União 1º de Dezembro and then ventured abroad, joining Cypriot club Omonia Aradippou.
That move gave him his first taste of foreign football before he returned to Portugal to join F.C. Felgueiras in 2016.
These formative years — mostly in Portugal’s Campeonato de Portugal and Segunda Divisão — shaped him into a disciplined, defensive midfielder with strong positional awareness.
He accumulated over 200 club appearances before earning a move to a Liga Portugal 2 club.
Professional Career
Cuca’s professional breakthrough came on 6 July 2018 when he signed with C.D. Mafra, a club that competes in Portugal’s second tier.
He made his professional debut in a 4–1 Liga Portugal 2 win over Estoril on 23 September 2018, a result that put Mafra firmly on the map that season.
He spent three seasons at Mafra, making 27 club appearances across all competitions. On 18 June 2021, he made a significant career move by joining Liga Portugal 2 side Casa Pia.
His time there proved to be the highlight of his club career — in his first season, Casa Pia achieved promotion to the Primeira Liga for the first time in 83 years, a historic milestone for the Lisbon-based club.
Cuca played in the Primeira Liga during Casa Pia’s promotion campaign and then continued into the 2022/23 season, making 20 Liga Portugal appearances.
On 11 August 2023, he signed a one-year deal with União de Leiria, a recently-promoted Liga Portugal 2 side.
By July 2024, he moved to CF Os Belenenses in Liga 3, Portugal’s third tier. According to data tracked by FootballTransfers, his contract with Os Belenenses runs until 30 June 2026.
On the international stage, Cuca earned his first call-up to the Cape Verde national team for friendlies in June 2021.
He debuted in a 2–0 loss to Senegal on 8 June 2021 and went on to represent his country at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, accumulating 10 international appearances and 1 goal.
Cuca Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Cuca has an estimated net worth of approximately $150,000 USD.
He built this wealth through a career of consistent professional contracts across Portugal’s second and third divisions, a brief stint in Cyprus, and bonuses tied to Cape Verde’s international campaigns.
Contract
Cuca’s most recent verified contract was with CF Os Belenenses in Liga 3, Portugal’s third division, with a reported contract end date of 30 June 2026.
Contracts at this level in Portuguese football typically fall in the range of €12,000 to €30,000 per year depending on experience and squad role.
As a 35-year-old veteran with Liga Portugal experience, Cuca would likely sit at the upper end of that bracket within a Liga 3 context.
Salary
According to FotMob, Cuca’s estimated transfer market value stands at approximately €110,000 as of 2025. Liga 3 players in Portugal generally earn between €800 and €2,500 per month.
Based on his career profile and the length of contracts at clubs like Mafra, Casa Pia, and União de Leiria, his annual salary is estimated at roughly €15,000–€25,000 gross per year in recent seasons.
His highest-earning period was likely during his time at Casa Pia in the Primeira Liga, where squad wages are significantly higher than the lower divisions.
Career Earnings By Year
| Period | Club | Division | Est. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2013 | AD Oeiras | Lower Divisions | ~€5,000–8,000 |
| 2013–2016 | S.U. 1º Dezembro | Segunda Divisão | ~€6,000–10,000 |
| 2016–2018 | F.C. Felgueiras | Campeonato de Portugal | ~€8,000–12,000 |
| 2018–2021 | C.D. Mafra | Liga Portugal 2 | ~€12,000–18,000 |
| 2021–2023 | Casa Pia A.C. | Liga Portugal 2 / Primeira Liga | ~€20,000–35,000 |
| 2023–2024 | União de Leiria | Liga Portugal 2 | ~€15,000–22,000 |
| 2024–2026 | CF Os Belenenses | Liga 3 | ~€12,000–20,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD Oeiras | 2009–2013 | Portuguese lower divs | ~58 | 2 | — |
| S.U. 1º Dezembro | 2013–2016 | Segunda Divisão | ~112 | 2 | — |
| F.C. Felgueiras | 2016–2018 | Campeonato de Portugal | ~126 | 0 | — |
| C.D. Mafra | 2018–2021 | Liga Portugal 2 | 27 | 0 | — |
| Casa Pia A.C. | 2021–2023 | Liga Portugal 2 / Primeira Liga | 31 | 0 | — |
| União de Leiria | 2023–2024 | Liga Portugal 2 | 15 | 0 | — |
| CF Os Belenenses | 2024– | Liga 3 | 29+ | 1 | — |
| Cape Verde NT | 2021–2024 | AFCON / Qualifiers / Friendlies | 10 | 1 | — |
FAQs
What is Cuca’s net worth?
Cuca’s estimated net worth is approximately $150,000 USD. He earned this through professional contracts in Portuguese football’s second and third divisions and his international appearances for Cape Verde.
Which club does Cuca play?
Cuca plays for CF Os Belenenses in Liga 3, Portugal’s third division. He joined the club in July 2024, and his contract runs through June 2026.
How many caps does Cuca have for Cape Verde?
Cuca has earned 10 international caps for the Cape Verde national team, scoring 1 goal. He made his debut on 8 June 2021 in a friendly loss to Senegal and later played at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Where was Cuca born?
Cuca was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on 9 January 1991. He is of Cape Verdean descent and chose to represent Cape Verde internationally rather than Portugal.
What was Cuca’s biggest career achievement?
His biggest club achievement came at Casa Pia, where his team earned promotion to the Primeira Liga for the first time in 83 years during the 2021/22 season. He also represented Cape Verde at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
