This is a brief summary of Joao Felix biography. Joao Felix is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays as a forward for Premier League club Chelsea, on loan from Atletico Madrid, and the Portugal national team. He was born on November 10, 1999. Felix started his football career at Porto’s youth academy but later moved to Benfica in 2015.
He played for their reserve team before being promoted to the first team in 2018, where he helped Benfica win the league title in his first and only season with them. Felix was awarded the Primeira Liga’s Best Young Player of the Year and the Golden Boy award.
In 2019, Felix signed with Atletico Madrid for a club-record transfer worth €126 million, becoming the second-most expensive teenager and the highest fee for a Portuguese player leaving the domestic league. In his second season with Atletico Madrid, he helped the team win the 2020–21 La Liga title, ending the club’s seven-year league title drought.
He has represented Portugal at various youth levels and earned his first cap for the senior national team during the semi-finals of the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, where he helped his country win the inaugural edition of the competition on home soil. Although Joao primarily plays as a forward, he is also capable of playing as a winger or attacking midfielder.
Everything to know about Joao Felix
We have provided Joao Felix stats 2023 as a way to become familiar with the Portuguese forward.
- Joao Felix Real Name: Joao Felix Sequeira
- Joao Felix Age: 23 years old
- Joao Felix Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
- Joao Felix Nationality: Portuguese
- Joao Felix Current Team: Chelsea (on loan from Atletico Madrid), Portugal national team
- Joao Felix Position: Forward
- Joao Felix 2022/2023 Season Appearances: 28
- Joao Felix 2022/2023 Season Goals: 6
- Joao Felix 2022/2023 Season Assists: 3
Joao Felix Style of Play
Joao Felix is recognized for his exceptional technical abilities and creativity, which enable him to play in several offensive positions with great success. His versatility allows him to be deployed as a striker, second striker, or even as a winger, although he usually operates as an attacking midfielder.
In Joao Felix biography, we read that during his time with Benfica, Joao Felix played primarily as a second striker in a 4-4-2 formation, where he was responsible for linking the midfield with the attack, creating scoring opportunities for the team’s main striker, and making runs into the box to score himself.
At Atletico Madrid, Joao Felix has occasionally played in a similar role, but he has also been utilized as a winger on either flank or as the second striker in the team’s 4-4-2 formation. He possesses a wide range of skills, including excellent ball control, finishing, and dribbling ability, as well as precise passing and vision.
He is a technically gifted and intelligent player with an eye for goal, and his primary strengths lie in his creativity, touch on the ball, and dribbling skills.
Joao Felix’s Family and Personal Life
Joao Felix was born in Viseu, Portugal, to Carlos and Carla, both of whom are teachers. He has a younger brother named Hugo, who plays for Benfica’s youth teams. During his childhood, Joao Felix looked up to Kaka and Rui Costa as his idols, with Rui Costa being a player he hoped to emulate.
It is noted in Joao Felix biography that he is currently in a relationship with Margarida Corceiro, a Portuguese actress. In April 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Joao Felix donated equipment to a crowdfunding campaign for a hospital in his hometown of Viseu.
What Others Say About Joao Felix
Joao Felix is widely considered one of the most promising players to have come out of Benfica’s youth academy and is recognized by experts as one of the most talented young players in the world of football.
His style of play has drawn comparisons to former Brazilian playmaker Kaka, and former Benfica stars Rui Costa and Joao Pinto.
Joao Felix has also been compared to fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as former Atletico Madrid forwards Sergio Aguero and Antoine Griezmann by some in the media.
Rui Costa, a former Benfica player and current director of football, praised Joao Felix in 2019 for his “understanding of the game” and his ability to position himself in front of the goal, one of the interesting facts in Joao Felix biography.
Joao Tralhao, his former youth coach at Benfica, highlighted Joao Felix’s versatility and intelligence on the field, saying that “he can play anywhere in the attack” and “understands positioning like few in the world.”
His Club Career
In this part of the article, we will delve into his time at different clubs and the important games and events he participated in.
Playing Football When He Was 8 Years Old
Joao Felix began his football career with Os Pestinhas in 2007 when he was just eight years old. The following year, he joined the youth academy of FC Porto, where he faced difficulties such as long commutes and demanding schedules.
At the age of 12, he left his parent’s home to live closer to Porto’s training facilities. Despite considering quitting football due to a lack of playing time, he continued to pursue his career, encouraged by his father, something to keep in mind regarding Joao Felix biography.
However, he was released by Porto in 2014, allegedly due to his small build, although Felix denies this claim and asserts that he left on his own. In 2015, at the age of 15, he moved to Benfica after a loan spell at Padroense.
His Time at Benfica
Joao Felix began his professional career by playing for Benfica’s reserve team in LigaPro at the age of 16 on September 17, 2016. He made his debut as a substitute and played 13 matches, scoring three goals in his debut season.
He was a key part of Benfica’s run to the final of the 2016-2017 UEFA Youth League, scoring six goals in the tournament. The following season, he was promoted to Benfica’s first team and scored his first Primeira Liga goal in a 1-1 draw against Sporting CP, becoming the youngest player to score in the Lisbon derby.
After Bruno Lage became the coach of Benfica, he started to use Joao Felix more regularly, and he became a vital player in the team’s attack. He was praised for his performance in a 4-2 away win over Sporting CP and scored the equalizer in a 2-1 away win over Porto in the league.
In April 2019, he scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 UEFA Europa League win over Eintracht Frankfurt, becoming the youngest-ever player to score a hat-trick in the competition. He finished the season with 20 goals, helping his team win the league title.
In Joao Felix biography, his impressive performances in his debut season garnered interest from several top European clubs, and he was considered one of the most talented young players in the world of football.
Joining Atletico Madrid in 2019
In the midst of his professional career, Joao Felix biography includes his transfer to Atletico Madrid in July 2019 for a record-breaking fee of €126 million, making him the most expensive signing in the history of the Spanish club.
The transfer fee also marked the highest sum ever paid for a teenager at the time, second only to Kylian Mbappe. Felix quickly made his debut for the club and made an impact by winning a penalty in his first game, despite not scoring a goal.
He later went on to score his first La Liga goal and his first UEFA Champions League goal, becoming the youngest goalscorer for Atletico Madrid in the competition at just 19 years old. However, his promising start was temporarily derailed by an ankle injury in a game against Valencia, which sidelined him for a month. Despite the setback, Felix was still recognized as one of the top footballers in the world, being nominated for the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
The Golden Boy
In November 2019, Joao Felix’s talent was recognized as he became the second Portuguese player to win the Golden Boy award for the best player in Europe under the age of 21, following in the footsteps of Renato Sanches.
Despite this, he struggled to adapt to Diego Simeone’s playing style and had difficulty finding his ideal position on the field. His pressing duties when off the ball and inability to create scoring chances often left him drained during matches. Spanish newspaper Marca even listed him as one of the most disappointing transfers of the season.
Despite these struggles, Felix continued to make appearances for Atletico Madrid, making his debut in the Supercopa de Espana in January 2020, where he was involved in an altercation with Jordi Alba and his teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Atletico Madrid lost to their rivals Real Madrid in the final. In the Copa del Rey Round of 32, Felix provided an assist for Angel Correa in a 2–1 loss against Cultural Leonesa.
On March 11, 2020, Felix provided an assist for Marcos Llorente in a 3-2 away win against Liverpool in the Champions League. Unfortunately, he suffered another injury to his left knee in May 2020, which required him to be sidelined for at least three weeks.
Felix returned to the pitch in August, scoring a goal from a penalty kick in a Champions League quarter-final match against RB Leipzig, but his team eventually lost 1-2 and were eliminated from the competition. These events are all part of Joao Felix biography.
COVID-19 Issues
In the opening fixture of the 2020-2021 La Liga season on September 27, Joao Felix made a significant contribution to Atletico’s 6-1 win over Granada, scoring a goal, providing an assist, and winning a penalty that was unfortunately missed by Saul Niguez.
He continued his strong form by scoring a brace in a 3-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League group stage on October 27.
This was followed by impressive performances in La Liga, where he scored back-to-back braces against Osasuna and Cadiz, earning him the league’s player of the Month award for November 2020. In December, Felix scored against Bayern Munich in a 1-1 draw.
However, his momentum was interrupted when he got COVID-19 in February, causing him to miss several games. Despite this setback, he made a crucial contribution on the penultimate matchday of the season, providing an assist in Atletico’s 2-1 comeback win over Osasuna, helping to secure their first La Liga title in seven years.
Joao Felix biography shows that throughout the season, Felix faced stiff competition for a starting spot in the team’s attack due to injuries and lack of game time, losing out to Angel Correa, Luis Suarez, Thomas Lemar, and Yannick Carrasco.
Back to Form
In the 2021-2022 season, he was out of play for Atletico’s initial three matches due to an ankle injury he had been battling since November, as mentioned in Joao Felix biography. He finally returned to the field on September 12, where he replaced Antoine Griezmann during the 58th minute in their match against Espanyol, which ended in a 2-1 away win.
Unfortunately, he received a two-match ban after being sent off in the 78th minute during their home draw against Athletic Bilbao on September 18 for calling the referee “crazy.” Nevertheless, Felix managed to regain his spot in the team due to his outstanding performance in the next three matches.
He assisted in both of Atletico’s goals during their 2-0 home victory against Barcelona in La Liga on October 2, and then went on to assist Antoine Griezmann’s second goal during their 2-3 home defeat against Liverpool in the Champions League on October 19.
Felix also assisted Luis Suarez’s first goal in their 2-2 home draw against Real Sociedad in La Liga on October 24. His first goal of the season was on October 31, in a 3-0 home win against Real Betis. Due to his excellent performances in October, he was awarded the Atletico Madrid Player of the Month by the club’s supporters.
More Injuries
Following a hamstring injury in November 2021, Felix found himself at odds with manager Diego Simeone, resulting in him losing his place as a starter and sparking rumors of a potential departure from the club in January 2022.
However, Atletico Madrid’s president Enrique Cerezo dismissed these rumors, and Felix was given an opportunity to prove himself in a starting role against Granada on December 22. Felix marked his 100th appearance for the club with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 away win over Osasuna on February 19.
He continued to impress, scoring in Atletico’s 1-1 home draw against Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie on February 23 and creating Renan Lodi’s goal in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 15.
In recognition of his great performances in March, Felix was named the league’s player of the Month. Unfortunately, he suffered another hamstring injury on April 17, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Despite the setback, Felix was named Atletico Madrid’s Player of the Season by the club’s supporters after finishing the campaign with ten goals and six assists.
Out of Favor
In the 2022-23 season, Joao Felix kicked off on August 15 with an impressive performance, providing a hat-trick of assists for the first time in his career as Atletico Madrid triumphed over Getafe 3-0 away from home.
This achievement made him the third Portuguese player to provide three assists in a match in La Liga. However, a dispute over his relationship with Diego Simeone emerged in the following matches, leading to Felix’s demotion to the fifth-choice attacker position behind Angel Correa, Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata, and Matheus Cunha.
We can see in Joao Felix biography that this situation worsened during a Champions League group stage match against Club Brugge on October 10, when Simeone sent him to warm up three times but never brought him onto the field. Consequently, Felix requested his agent, Jorge Mendes, to find him a new club in the winter transfer window.
Despite featuring sporadically for Atletico in the following matches, Felix was named man of the match on October 29 after coming on as a 60th-minute substitute and scoring his first two goals of the season in a 3-2 away loss to Cadiz.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, on December 6, the CEO of Atletico, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, declared that the club planned to offload Felix.
He expressed that Felix was the most significant investment the club has ever made, and even though he believed Felix to be a top-tier player, he stated that the player’s motivation and relationship with the coach were not favorable.
Gil Marin expressed that he would prefer for Felix to continue playing for Atletico, but it was not the player’s intention.
Leaving to Join Chelsea on Loan in 2023
In the midst of his career, Joao Felix made a significant move on January 11, 2023, when he joined Chelsea on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season while also extending his contract with Atletico Madrid to 2027 prior to the loan move.
The young footballer made his debut for Chelsea the very next day but faced a setback when he received a red card for his tackle on Kenny Tete in the 58th minute of the match against Fulham, an unfortunate event in Joao Felix biography.
As a result, he was banned for three matches. Felix returned to the field on February 11 and marked his comeback with his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against West Ham United in the league.
His International Career
He has been playing for his country since he was only 17 years old, and we would like to tell you about both his youth and senior career in this last section.
Joining Portugal for the Very First Time
In Joao Felix life story, he made his debut for Portugal’s under-18 team on June 14, 2017, in a friendly match against Norway. He replaced Elves Balde in the 58th minute and scored a brace in a 3-0 victory in Lisbon.
On October 10, 2017, Felix played his first game for Portugal’s under-21 team in a 3-1 defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, replacing Xadas in the 56th minute in the qualification of the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
He continued to impress for Portugal’s under-19 team, debuting on January 15, 2018, in a 2-1 victory over Turkey, where he came on as a 27th-minute substitute for the injured Jorge Teixeira.
Felix scored his first international goal for Portugal’s under-21 team on March 23, 2018, in a 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein. He scored four goals during the qualification process, helping Portugal to the playoffs.
In the first leg of the playoffs, Portugal defeated Poland 1-0 away but ultimately lost in the second leg in a 3-1 home defeat, causing them to fail to qualify for the tournament.
His Senior Career with Portugal
Manager Fernando Santos gave Felix his first senior team call-up on March 15, 2019, for the opening UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches, but Felix had to miss Portugal’s match against Serbia on March 25 due to a foot injury sustained during training with the national squad.
He was also selected for Portugal’s 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals squad and made his international debut in the semi-finals against Switzerland on June 5, playing until the 71st minute of a 3–1 victory. Portugal eventually won the tournament by defeating the Netherlands 1–0.
Felix scored his first international goal on September 5, 2020, during a 4–1 win over Croatia in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. He was part of Portugal’s squad for UEFA Euro 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute during a 1–0 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 on June 27.
In October 2022, Felix was named in Portugal’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and was eventually included in the final 26-man squad for the tournament. On November 25, Felix scored his first World Cup goal in Portugal’s 3–2 group stage win against Ghana.
He also provided two assists in Portugal’s 6–1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16 on December 6. Unfortunately, Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing 1–0 to Morocco, who became the first CAF nation ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
