Another chapter begins in one of modern football’s most puzzling careers, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that João Félix’s full potential may never be realized.
At 25, the Portuguese forward is heading to Saudi Arabia, signing a two-year deal with Al Nassr worth up to £43.7 million after a string of underwhelming spells at top European clubs. It’s a far cry from the electric teenager who once seemed destined to be one of the game’s brightest stars.
Back in 2019, Félix became the third most expensive signing in football history when Atlético Madrid paid £113 million to lure him from Benfica. He was just 19.
Since then, he's played for Chelsea, Barcelona, and AC Milan, but in all that time, he’s never scored more than 10 goals in a single season. As Lisbon based journalist Marcus Alves puts it, "The feeling back home is that Félix has officially given up on being a truly top level international player."
From Pure Art to Question Marks
Félix’s early days were magical. He rose through Benfica’s academy and made his first team debut at 18. In that breakthrough 2018–19 season, he scored 20 goals in 43 games, helped Benfica win the league, and picked up the Golden Boy award as Europe’s best young talent.“Those six months at Benfica were the best I’ve seen from any player in Portugal in nearly a decade,” says Alves. “It was pure art.”
Expectations soared. Headlines in Portugal even referred to “Ronaldo joining Félix” during a national team camp. He wasn’t just a rising star, he was the next big thing.
But then came Atlético.
A Mismatch in Madrid
Atlético Madrid splashed the cash to replace Antoine Griezmann with Félix. But under Diego Simeone’s demanding system, built on grit, pressing, and tactical discipline, he never quite fit in.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague remembers it well: “Early on, Simeone was shouting instructions, and Félix just ignored him. From there, the relationship deteriorated.”
Though he had flashes of brilliance, including helping Atleti win La Liga in 2020–21, he never became the player they’d hoped for. Across four seasons, he managed 35 goals in 131 games. For a £113 million signing, it wasn’t enough.
“He just never adapted to the other side of the game—defensive work, pressing, tracking back,” says Balague. “It’s not that he’s lazy, but he doesn’t listen.”
A Tour of Europe That Changed Little
In 2023, Félix tried his luck in the Premier League with a six-month loan to Chelsea. His debut summed things up: promising flashes of skill… then a red card for a reckless tackle. He scored just four times in 20 appearances.
Chelsea didn’t keep him. Nor did Barcelona, where he went next, though he did manage a poetic moment by scoring in both league games against Atlético, becoming the first player to do so since Lionel Messi.
His most recent stop was AC Milan, where he scored three goals in 21 games and became briefly viral after Kyle Walker told him, “Pass the ball—no one here is Messi.”
Clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona, and Milan all seemed to reach the same conclusion: Félix has the talent, but not the consistency or work ethic modern football demands.
A Surprising Move, a Sad Reality
This summer, many hoped he’d go back to Benfica to reboot his career where it all began. Félix even hinted as much: “Benfica is my favourite team. It’s my home. One day I will return.”But instead of a romantic homecoming, he’s off to Saudi Arabia, joining Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr under ex Benfica boss Jorge Jesus.
As Alves notes, “Earlier this month he talked about returning to Lisbon. Now? Nobody really seems to care anymore.”
A Career That Never Took Off
At 25, João Félix should be entering his prime. But instead of climbing to the top of the game, he’s drifting away from it.His stats aren’t awful: 9 goals in 45 appearances for Portugal, a La Liga title, and a Nations League trophy. But considering the hype and price tag, his career feels more like a cautionary tale than a triumph.
“He was raised in a football era that worshipped natural talent but didn’t prepare him for the rest of the job,” says Balague. “He never became a modern forward, never embraced the responsibilities that come with it.”
And so, those magical six months at Benfica might end up being the high point of a career that once promised everything but delivered far less.
