João Baptista Martins (3 September 1927 – 16 November 1993) was a Portuguese footballer who played as a striker.
Born in Sines, Setúbal District, Martins signed with Sporting CP at the age of 19 for 100 escudos, after leaving G.D. CUF as the works team did not find him an occupation as originally promised.
[1] In his 13-year tenure in Lisbon, he won seven Primeira Liga championships and the 1954 Taça de Portugal.
[3] On 4 September 1955, he scored the first-ever goal in the history of the European Cup, opening a 3–3 home draw against FK Partizan at the Estádio Nacional.
The scorer of 258 competitive goals, he was also used as a makeshift goalkeeper in a game against Clube Oriental de Lisboa.