| Minhoca | |
| Fullname: | Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela[1] |
| Birth Date: | 29 April 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Ponta Delgada, Portugal |
| Height: | 1.750NaN0 |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Clubnumber: | 5 |
| Youthyears1: | 1999–2004 |
| Youthclubs1: | Marítimo Ponta Delgada |
| Youthyears2: | 2005 |
| Youthclubs2: | Oliveirenses |
| Youthyears3: | 2005–2006 |
| Youthclubs3: | Marítimo Ponta Delgada |
| Years1: | 2006–2011 |
| Caps1: | 68 |
| Goals1: | 14 |
| Years2: | 2011–2014 |
| Caps2: | 80 |
| Goals2: | 7 |
| Years3: | 2014–2017 |
| Caps3: | 64 |
| Goals3: | 2 |
| Years4: | 2017–2019 |
| Caps4: | 37 |
| Goals4: | 3 |
| Years5: | 2019–2020 |
| Caps5: | 19 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2020–2022 |
| Caps6: | 25 |
| Goals6: | 2 |
| Years7: | 2022– |
| Caps7: | 41 |
| Goals7: | 1 |
| Club-Update: | 17:30, 16 June 2024 (UTC) |
Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela (born 29 April 1988), known as Minhoca, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Rabo de Peixe as an attacking midfielder.
He achieved totals of 70 Primeira Liga games and 2 goals for Paços de Ferreira and Santa Clara, while adding 130 games and 10 goals in the second tier for Santa Clara and Varzim.
Born in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Minhoca earned his nickname meaning "earthworm" in his native language for his dribbling ability while a youth player at Marítimo Sport Clube in his hometown.[2] He began his senior career with CU Micaelense in the fourth division and, in June 2011, he signed a three-year deal with C.D. Santa Clara of the Segunda Liga, again in his native islands.[3]
In January 2014, Primeira Liga club F.C. Paços de Ferreira secured Minhoca on a 3-year contract.[4] He scored his first goal on 21 May as a substitute confirming a 3–1 home win over C.D. Aves in the promotion/relegation play-off;[5] he added a brace on 23 November in a 9–0 rout of amateurs Clube Atlético Riachense in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.[6] On 13 December he was sent off before half time in a 2–1 win against F.C. Arouca at the Estádio da Mata Real.[7] His first top-flight goal was on 17 April 2016, in a 4–3 away win against C.F. União.[8]
Minhoca returned to Santa Clara in May 2017, on a two-year deal.[9] In his first season in his second spell, he contributed three goals as they were promoted as runners-up to C.D. Nacional. On 17 September he received a straight red card after half an hour in a 2–1 victory at Gil Vicente FC.[10]
In July 2019, released by Santa Clara, Minhoca agreed to a one-year contract at Varzim S.C. in division two.[11] At its conclusion, he dropped down to the third tier and joined S.C.U. Torreense.[12] After winning promotion to Liga 3, he signed for another season in Torres Vedras in July 2021.[13]