Joao Felix
Active- Current or last club
- Al-Nassr
- Country (nationality)
- Portugal
- League or competition
- Saudi Pro League
- Position
- Attacking midfielder * forward
- How is the religion known?
- Reported by reputable media
- Last checked
- 8 October 2026
We list a player’s religion only where they have spoken about it publicly or it has been reliably reported, and we link our sources. If something is wrong, or a player’s views have changed, please tell us and we will review it.
Table of Contents
What religion is Joao Felix?
João Félix is a Portuguese professional footballer who is a Christian. While he does not frequently discuss his faith in the media, Félix did mention in an early interview that his demanding schedule at the Benfica youth academy meant he missed out on traditional catechism or religious instruction classes as a teenager because his weekends were entirely consumed by football matches.
João Félix is widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted forwards of his generation and one of the most creative talents in modern Portuguese football. After developing at Benfica, where he scored 15 goals and helped win the Portuguese league title, Félix moved to Atlético Madrid for a club-record €126 million in 2019. His career since has taken him through loan spells at Chelsea and Barcelona.
In 2024, Félix rejoined Chelsea on a permanent transfer, but after a brief subsequent loan with AC Milan, he made a high-profile move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in July 2025. Under the management of Jorge Jesus and playing alongside international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, he quickly became one of the defining players of the team’s attack. Over his brilliant debut domestic campaign, he led Al-Nassr to the Saudi Pro League title and was named the league’s Player of the Season. With the Portuguese national team, Félix won the 2019 and 2025 UEFA Nations League.
Contracts, salary & career earnings
João Félix is under contract with Al-Nassr FC until June 30, 2027, earning a gross annual salary of €17.5 million (approximately $20 million), or about €336,538 (approximately $385,000) per week. That leaves roughly €17.5 million (approximately $20 million) still to be paid across the remaining one year of his deal. Over the course of his career spanning stints at Benfica, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, AC Milan, and now Al-Nassr, Félix has already earned an estimated €100.5 million (approximately $115 million) in gross salary. By the end of his Saudi contract, his total career earnings are projected to reach approximately €118 million (roughly $135 million), a testament to both his longevity and his stature as one of the most naturally gifted and high-profile forwards of his generation.
Early life
João Félix was born on November 10, 1999, in Viseu, Portugal. His father worked as a football fitness coach and introduced him to the sport when he was very young. He started playing for a local youth club called Os Pestinhas in 2007. A year later, at just eight years old, he joined the youth academy at FC Porto.
Porto released him in 2014 when he was 14 years old. He then spent one season playing for Padroense to keep developing his skills. In 2015, at age 15, he made a big move to join the youth academy at Benfica in Lisbon.
Club career
Félix debuted professionally at age 16 for Benfica’s reserve team in LigaPro on 17 September 2016 as an 83rd-minute substitute in a goalless draw at Freamunde. He moved up to Benfica’s first team in July 2018 and made his senior debut that August. In his only season with the first team, he helped Benfica win the Portuguese league title. His great form won him the league’s Best Young Player award and the prestigious European Golden Boy trophy. He also became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in Europa League history.
On 3 July 2019, Félix signed a seven-year contract with Spanish club Atlético Madrid for a transfer fee of €126 million (£113 million). This transfer made him the fourth-highest sum ever paid in football and was also Benfica’s biggest transfer and Atlético’s most expensive signing ever. He helped Atlético win the La Liga title during the 2020–21 season to end a seven-year trophy wait. However, his four years in Madrid were tough due to injuries, mixed form, and a bad relationship with manager Diego Simeone.
Félix joined Chelsea on loan in January 2023, scoring four goals in 20 games. He then spent the 2023–24 season on loan at Barcelona, where he scored 10 goals in 44 matches. Chelsea signed Félix permanently in August 2024 for a fee of €52 million on a seven-year contract. He found it hard to win a regular starting role under manager Enzo Maresca, starting just nine matches that year. Still, he won the FIFA Club World Cup with the club in the summer of 2025. He was loaned to AC Milan in January 2025, where he scored three goals in 19 games before returning to England.
Al-Nassr
After returning from Milan, Félix wanted to go back to Benfica. The Portuguese club held talks with his team but could not afford the move. Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr stepped in instead and signed him from Chelsea in July 2025 on a two-year contract. The transfer fee was an initial €30 million, which could reach up to €50 million with performance bonuses.
Félix earns a massive salary of €17.5 million each year at Al-Nassr, which is around €336,538 per week. Extra bonuses can add another €5.3 million to his annual pay. This deal was a huge financial jump from the €8 million he made at Chelsea. His impact was instant, as he helped Al-Nassr win the Saudi Pro League title in his very first season and also finished his debut season with 20 goals and 13 assists.
International career
Félix made his senior debut for Portugal during the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals. Before this, he played for his country at every youth level from the under-18s to the under-21s. He made the final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He scored in a 3–2 group win over Ghana and made two assists in a 6–1 win against Switzerland. Morocco then knocked Portugal out in the quarter-finals.
Félix also made the squad for UEFA Euro 2024, though he did not play in the early matches. He helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League title twice, both in 2019 and 2025. Manager Roberto Martínez selected him for the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking his second career appearance at the tournament. He entered the competition with 57 matches played and 12 international goals for his country.
Personal life
Félix was previously in a long-term relationship with Portuguese actress and model Margarida Corceiro since 2019, but the pair are no longer together. In addition, his parents, Carlos and Carla, are both teachers.
