| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gustavo Miguel Pereira Sousa Varela | ||
| Date of birth | 30 January 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Gil Vicente (on loan from Benfica) | ||
| Number | 89 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2013 | Miúdos Talentosos | ||
| 2013–2016 | Sporting | ||
| 2016–2022 | PAOK | ||
| 2022–2023 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Benfica B | 56 | (14) |
| 2024– | Benfica | 1 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Gil Vicente (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | Portugal U17 | 8 | (1) |
| 2023 | Portugal U18 | 3 | (1) |
| 2024 | Portugal U19 | 2 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Portugal U20 | 7 | (1) |
| 2025– | Portugal U21 | 4 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:15, 9 November 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:15, 9 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Gustavo Miguel Pereira Sousa Varela (born 30 January 2005) is a Portuguese professional football player who plays as a forward for Primeira Liga club Gil Vicente, on loan from Benfica.
Varela is a product of the Portuguese clubs Miúdos Talentosos and Sporting, before moving to the Greek club PAOK in 2016 to finish his development. On 5 January 2022 he transferred to Benfica. [1] He was promoted to Benfica B in 2023. He debuted with the senior Benfica team in a 1–1 Primeira Liga tie with Rio Ave on 17 May 2024. [2] On 30 May 2024, he extended his contract with Benfica until 2028. [3] On 9 July 2025, he joined Gil Vicente on a season-long loan in the Primeira Liga. [4]
Born in Portugal, Varela is of Cape Verdean descent through his father. [5] He is a youth international for Portugal, having played for the Portugal U21s in October 2025. [6]
Varela's father, Fernando Varela, was also a professional footballer and played for the Cape Verde national team. [7]