Hélder Manuel Elias Domingos Baptista (born 18 February 1972) is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Born in Torres Vedras, Lisbon District, Baptista made his senior – and Primeira Liga – debut in the 1991–92 season, appearing sparingly as local club S.C.U.
[3] In the following six years, with the exception of 1993–94, spent with the same team, he continued to compete in the top flight, representing S.C. Farense, S.C. Braga and Boavista FC; he played his first game in the UEFA Cup with the latter side, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 away win against Odense Boldklub on 10 September 1996.
in the Ligue 1,[5] but the following transfer window he switched to the Spanish La Liga with Rayo Vallecano, his first match in the latter competition taking place on 22 August when he came as a 73rd-minute substitute for Luis Cembranos in the 2–0 victory at Atlético Madrid,[6] and his maiden goal occurring on 5 December in a 3–2 away loss to Deportivo de La Coruña.
[7] Baptista contributed nine appearances (eight starts) in Rayo's quarter-final run in the 2000–01 UEFA Cup,[8] but from 2002 to 2004 he also saw the club drop two consecutive levels.