Nuno Assis
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Nuno Assis Lopes Miranda is an exceptionally gifted 27-year-old playmaker, able to use his speed and skill to good effect on both wings.
National team
Made his bow for the Portugal national team under caretaker coach Agostinho Oliveira in the aftermath of the FIFA World Cup 2002. His only cap so far was in November 2002 as a substitute in a 2-0 friendly victory over Scotland.
Club
His talent was spotted by a Sporting Clube de Portugal scout when he was playing in his home town of Lousã. He moved to Lisbon but after success in the youth teams, was loaned to fourth division SC Lourinhanense, between 1996/97 and 1998/99. Debuted in the top flight in 1999/2000, playing 19 matches for FC Alverca while on-loan from Sporting, before a final loan the following season, this time to Gil Vicente FC, for whom he scored his first-ever top flight goals. In 2002/03 Assis struck three times in 33 matches and in 2003/04 added four goals in 31 matches.
2004/05: Started the season at Vitória SC, but moved to SL Benfica during the January transfer window. In Guimarães, he scored twice in 13 matches, and after netting on his debut for Benfica against Moreirense FC, he scored twice in 15 matches. Quickly became a regular first-teamer for Giovanni Trapattoni after the departure of Slovenian veteran Zlatko Zahovic.
Nuno Assis debuted for Benfica at D. Afonso Henriques Stadium, home of his former club, Vitória SC.
Doping
After a domestic league match between Benfica and CS Marítimo, on December 3, 2005, Nuno Assis allegedly tested positive for a banned substance. In February, UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body suspended the player from all official UEFA matches after the test results were declared [1]. Benfica had won that match by 1-0 and the result has not been contested. As of May 13, 2006 no further public developments on this case have been made.