SPORTS NEWS.

Assis started playing football in his hometown Lousã, before being spotted by Sporting Clube de Portugal; he then moved to the Lisbon club's youth system, and later was loaned to its feeder club Sporting Clube Lourinhanense. Assis made his debuts in the top division in 1999–2000, playing 19 matches for F.C. Alverca while still on loan from Sporting. He was then loaned a final time the following season to Gil Vicente FC, for whom he scored his first-ever top flight goals. In 2002–03, with Vitória de Guimarães, Assis struck three times in 33 matches and added four in 31 matches in the following. On 25 January 2004, he played in a 1–0 home loss against future club Benfica, a game overshadowed by the tragic death of Benfica's Miklós Fehér.

In 2004–05, Assis started with Guimarães, but moved to S.L. Benfica mid-season, to replace burning-out star Zlatko Zahovič.[1] He scored on his debut for Benfica, against Moreirense FC, in a 2–1 away success.

Prior to 2008–09 kick-off, after being used relatively in three 1/2 seasons, Assis was released by Benfica, alongside Luís Filipe, re-joining Vitória Guimarães. On January 30, 2009, he netted his first career hat-trick, in a 4–2 win at Vitória de Setúbal.

 

Assis' first game for the Portuguese national team was under coach Agostinho Oliveira in November 2002, in a friendly match. He came in as a substitute in the 2–0 victory over Scotland.

After more than six years of absence, Assis returned to the national team, taking the pitch during the second half of the decisive 2010 World Cup qualifier against Malta (4–0, in Guimarães); he was not picked, however, for the final stages in South Africa