bˈɔːɹn ɪn ˌoʊdɪvˈɛləz, lˈɪsbən mˌɛtɹəpˈɑːlɪtən ˈɛɹiə, sˈæntoʊz bɪɡˈæn hɪz fˈʊtbɔːl kɚɹˈɪɹ æɾ ˈeɪdʒ ɪlˈɛvən æt spˈoːɹɾɪŋ sˌiːpˈiː, ænd mˌeɪd hɪz deɪbjˈuː ɪnðə pɹaɪmˈiəɹə lˈiːɡə ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ sˈiːzən, wˈɪnɪŋ ðə lˈiːɡ wɪð kˈæpɪɾəl nˈeɪbɚz ˈɛs.ˈɛl. bˈɛnfɪkə baɪ plˈeɪɪŋ wˈʌn mˈɪnɪt ɪnðə lˈæst ɡˈeɪm.
Born in Odivelas, Lisbon metropolitan area, Santos began his football career at age 11 at Sporting CP, and made his debut in the Primeira Liga in the 1993–94 season, winning the league with capital neighbours S.L. Benfica by playing one minute in the last game.