World Soccer - UK (2019-12)

2016-17 2 017 -18 2 018 -19 2 019 - 2 0

the numbers game

BIOGRAPHY

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Joao Felix
holding him back. Simeone has had
to field constant questions about
his micro-management of the club’s
marquee signing and revealed that he
has made a point of explaining to the
Portuguese teenager that the path to
success will be far from straightforward.
“At Atletico you need to prepare the
minds of players, so Joao has to be told
the reality,” says the Argentinian coach.
“The problem is he’s compared to
Griezmann who is practically a Ballon
d’Or player, whereas Felix is a kid who
has the potential to get there. He’s a
19-year-old kid who is humble and
understands he can’t play every minute.”
Felix’s performances in Spain thus
far have showcased flashes of his
effervescent excellence but there
have also been games in which he
has struggled to make an impact, fuelling
the debate about whether the move to
Atletico was the best choice to nurture
an uncommon talent. It is legitimate to

question whether he can flourish in an
inherently defensive team. But given his
career to date, it is also not unreasonable
to assume he has the natural talent to
blossom in any tactical system.
In attempting to objectively gauge
Felix’s potential and his chances of fully
realising it, perhaps the biggest clues
come from the people who know
him best.
Pedro Marques is the technical
director of Benfica’s Seixal academy, and
rather than Felix’s technical ability, vision
on the pitch or composure in front of
goal, Marques cites his attitude and his
support network as key elements behind
his rise.
“I think it’s down to his work ethic, his
talent and the way he has been nurtured
at the Seixal academy,” says Marques.
“At all levels, even in the younger age
groups, he always gave maximum effort
to develop his ability.
“Moreover, he’s had the social support
and the right people to complement his
stable personality and these factors have
contributed to his success.”

€ 222 m NEYMAR(Barcelona to PSG, 2017)^

€ 135 m KYLIAN MBAPPE (Monaco to PSG, 2018)

€ 126 m

JOAO FELIX

(Benfica to Atletico Madrid, 1999)

€

120 m

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN

(Atletico Madrid to Barcelona, 2019)

€

120 m

PHILIPPE COUTINHO

(Liverpool to Barcelona, 2018)

2014 Barcelona 3 0 Benfica

2015 Chelsea 3 2 Shakhtar Donetsk

2016 Chelsea 2 1 Paris Saint-Germain

2017 Red Bull Salzburg 2 1 Benfica

2018 Barcelona 3 0 Chelsea

2019 Porto 3 1 Chelsea

13

3

17

4

43

20

11

3

2014

WILLIAM

CARVALHO

(Sporting)

2015

OLIVER

TORRES

(Porto)

2018

RUBEN

DIAS

(Benfica)

2019

JOAO

FELIX

(Benfica)

2016

RENATO

SANCHES

(Benfica)

2017

NELSON

SEMEDO

(Benfica)

GAMES GOALS 

MOST EXPENSVE PLAYERS

UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE FINALS

BENFICA B BENFICA ATLETICO MADRID

CAPS

GOALS

0

4

PORTUGAL

(up to & inc 17.11.19 )

PORTUGUESE PRIMERA

Breakthrough

player of

the year

Success...with the UEFA Nations League