The story of João Félix
In the summer of 2019 Atlético paid Benfica a club-record fee for João Félix, a 19-year-old Portuguese forward who had just dazzled Europe. Months later he won the Golden Boy award as the best young player on the continent.
Talent and expectations
Félix was elegant, creative and capable of moments of brilliance that few players in the world could match. He scored and assisted in big games and was part of the squad that won La Liga in 2020–21. But injuries, changes of role and the weight of his price tag made his time in Madrid uneven, and his relationship with the coaching staff was not always easy.
Legacy
After loans at Chelsea and Barcelona, he was sold to Chelsea in 2024. He played close to 100 league games for the club, and his best performances remain some of the most gifted football seen at the Metropolitano.
