WHO IS RUI PINTO? The Man Who Exposed Football’s Biggest Secrets and Shook Manchester City

Rui Pinto is the Portuguese computer specialist behind Football Leaks, the platform that exposed millions of confidential documents from the world of professional football. His leaked material helped journalists investigate the finances of major clubs, players, agents and football organisations, including matters involving Manchester City.

Pinto was later arrested in Hungary and convicted in Portugal of unauthorised access to computer systems, violations of correspondence and attempted extortion.

He was also identified as the source behind the major Luanda Leaks investigation, which examined the international business empire of Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos.

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Despite his criminal convictions, Pinto has maintained that he acted as a whistleblower exposing information in the public interest. In 2026, his story returned to the spotlight after a Portuguese court dismissed a separate case against him and authorities ended his protected-witness status.

His name also resurfaced following the Premier League’s ruling against Manchester City, making Pinto one of the most controversial figures in modern football journalism and whistleblowing.