Nuno Santos (footballer, born 1999)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Valenteand the second or paternal family name is Santos.

Nuno Santos

Personal information
Full name	Nuno Miguel Valente Santos [1]
Date of birth	(1999-03-02) 2 March 1999 (age 26) [2]
Place of birth	Porto, Portugal [2]
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) [2]
Position	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Mamelodi Sundowns
Number	10
Youth career
2007–2008	Boavista
2008–2010	Porto
2010–2012	Boavista
2012–2017	Benfica
2017	→ Belenenses (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2022	Benfica B	60	(13)
2020	→ Moreirense (loan)	14	(1)
2020–2021	→ Boavista (loan)	29	(1)
2021–2022	→ Paços Ferreira (loan)	31	(5)
2022–2023	Charlotte FC	9	(1)
2023	Crown Legacy	1	(1)
2023–2025	Vitória Guimarães	65	(5)
2025–	Mamelodi Sundowns	5	(0)
International career
2015	Portugal U16	4	(0)
2016	Portugal U17	13	(1)
2017	Portugal U18	5	(2)
2017–2018	Portugal U19	11	(0)
2018–2019	Portugal U20	10	(2)
2019	Portugal U21	3	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Portugal UEFA European Under-19 Championship Winner 2018
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 01:48, 23 December 2025 (UTC)

Nuno Miguel Valente Santos (born 2 March 1999) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for South African Premiership club Mamelodi Sundowns.

Club career

Benfica

Born in Porto, Santos was a youth player at his city's two major teams, Boavista F.C. and FC Porto, before joining S.L. Benfica in 2012. ^[3] He made his debut for the reserve team in LigaPro on 8 August 2017 as the season opened with a 2–1 away loss against U.D. Oliveirense, ^[4] and scored his first goal the following 6 January at the end of a 3–1 defeat at FC Porto B. ^[5] In 2018–19 he scored a career-best seven goals (adding five in seven matches in the UEFA Youth League), subsequently renewing his contract until 2024. ^[6]

By then captain of Benfica B, Santos was loaned to Primeira Liga club Moreirense F.C. on 29 January 2020. ^[7] He made his top-flight debut four days later by starting in a 5–1 away victory over Gil Vicente FC. ^[8] His first goal at the level came on 11 July to win the game at B-SAD. ^[9]

Santos continued to be loaned the following two seasons, to Boavista ^[10] and F.C. Paços de Ferreira. ^[11] On 19 November 2021, while in service of the latter side, he put his team ahead against his parent club in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal, but in a 4–1 loss. ^{[12] [13]}

Charlotte FC

On 5 August 2022, Santos signed a two-year deal with Charlotte FC. ^[14] He scored his only Major League Soccer goal on 17 September in the 3–2 away defeat of Chicago Fire FC, ^[15] and also spent time with the reserve team Crown Legacy FC. ^[16]

Vitória Guimarães

Santos returned to Portugal in July 2023, joining top-flight Vitória S.C. on a four-year contract. ^{[17] [18]} On 27 October 2024, his 43rd-minute first-time shot from near the penalty arc helped his side to earn a 2–2 draw at C.F. Estrela da Amadora, and was later voted Goal of the Month for September/October. ^{[19] [20]}

During his tenure at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Santos totalled 90 games, eight goals and 14 assists. ^[21]

Mamelodi Sundowns

On 23 September 2025, Santos moved to Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. of the South African Premiership. ^[22]

International career

Santos was part of Hélio Sousa's Portugal under-19 team that won the 2018 UEFA European Championship in Finland. He made three substitute appearances in the tournament, including one in extra time of the final. ^[23]

On 5 September 2019, Santos earned his first cap for the under-21s, in a 4–0 home defeat of Gibraltar in the 2021 UEFA European Championship qualifiers. ^[24]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 December 2025 ^[25]

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Benfica B	2017–18	LigaPro	14	3	—		—		—		—		14	3
	2018–19	LigaPro	30	7	—		—		—		—		30	7
	2019–20	LigaPro	16	3	—		—		—		—		16	3
	Total		60	13	—		—		—		—		60	13
Moreirense (loan)	2019–20	Primeira Liga	14	1	0	0	0	0	—		—		14	1
Boavista (loan)	2020–21	Primeira Liga	29	1	1	0	0	0	—		—		30	1
Paços Ferreira (loan)	2021–22	Primeira Liga	31	5	1	0	2	0	4 [c]	0	—		38	5
Charlotte FC	2022	Major League Soccer	4	1	0	0	—		—		—		4	1
	2023	Major League Soccer	5	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0	5	0
	Total		9	1	0	0	—		0	0	0	0	9	1
Crown Legacy	2023	MLS Next Pro	1	1	—		—		—		—		1	1
Vitória Guimarães	2023–24	Primeira Liga	27	2	6	0	1	0	—		—		34	2
	2024–25	Primeira Liga	33	3	3	0	1	1	14 [c]	2	—		51	6
	2025–26	Primeira Liga	5	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		5	0
	Total		65	5	9	0	2	1	14	2	—		90	8
Mamelodi Sundowns	2025–26	South African Premiership	5	0	0	0	1	0	3 [d]	3	0	0	9	3
Career total			220	27	11	0	5	1	21	5	0	0	257	33

1. Includes Taça de Portugal, U.S. Open Cup and Nedbank Cup
2. Includes Taça da Liga and Carling Knockout Cup
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
4. Appearances in CAF Champions League

Honours

Benfica

• Campeonato Nacional de Juniores: 2017–18 ^[26]
• UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2016–17 ^[27]

Portugal

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2018 ^[23]

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: Portugal" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
2. "Nuno Santos" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
3. Resendes, Manuel (18 August 2020). "Mercado: Boavista garante médio ofensivo Nuno Santos ao Benfica" [Transfer market: Boavista confirm attacking midfielder Nuno Santos from Benfica] (in Portuguese). Futebol 365. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
4. "Oliveirense-Benfica B, 2–1: Penálti tardio dá triunfo" [Oliveirense-Benfica B, 2–1: Late penalty gives win]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 August 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
5. "FC Porto B confirma liderança com vitória frente ao Benfica B" [FC Porto B confirm lead with victory against Benfica B]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
6. "Benfica renova com Nuno Santos até 2024" [Benfica renew with Nuno Santos until 2024] (in Portuguese). TSF. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
7. Silva, Flávio Miguel (29 January 2020). "Benfica empresta Nuno Santos no Moreirense" [Benfica loan Nuno Santos to Moreirense]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 September 2025.
8. "Gil Vicente FC em "dia não" é goleado por Moreirense FC" [Gil Vicente FC on "off day" are thrashed by Moreirense FC] (in Portuguese). Barcelos na Hora. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
9. Amaro, Miguel (11 July 2020). "A crónica do Belenenses SAD-Moreirense, 0–1: só um Nuno acerta num jogo de erros" [Report on Belenenses SAD-Moreirene, 0–1: only Nuno on target in game of errors]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 September 2025.
10. "Oficial: Benfica empresta Nuno Santos ao Boavista" [Official: Benfica loan Nuno Santos to Boavista] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
11. "Nuno Santos vai defender o amarelo" [Nuno Santos will defend yellows] (in Portuguese). F.C. Paços Ferreira. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
12. "VÍDEO: Nuno Santos deu vantagem ao Paços na Luz e pediu desculpa" [VIDEO: Nuno Santos put Paços in front at the Luz and apologised] (in Portuguese). CNN Portugal. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
13. Marques, Pedro Miguel (19 November 2021). "Benfica 4–1 Paços de Ferreira: Águia apanha susto mas acaba a golear e segue em frente na Taça" [Benfica 4–1 Paços de Ferreira: Eagle got scare but end up thrashing and go through in Cup] (in Portuguese). SAPO . Retrieved 7 February 2022.
14. "Charlotte FC acquires Portuguese attacking midfielder Nuno Santos from SL Benfica". Charlotte FC. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
15. "Karol Swiderski helps Charlotte FC come back to beat Fire". Sportsnaut. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
16. "Charlotte FC loans Nuno Santos to Crown Legacy FC". Charlotte FC. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
17. "Charlotte FC midfielder Nuno Santos joins Vitória S.C." Charlotte FC. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
18. "OFICIAL: Nuno Santos regressa a Portugal e assina pelo Vitória" [OFFICIAL: Nuno Santos returns to Portugal and signs for Vitória] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
19. "Remate de primeira de Nuno Santos eleito Golo do Mês da Liga Portugal Betclic" [Nuno Santos first-time shot voted Goal of the Month in Liga Portugal Betclic] (in Portuguese). Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
20. "Nuno Santos recebe prémio Golo do Mês: «Foi só uma questão de olhar bem para a trajetória da bola»" [Nuno Santos gets the Goal of the Month award: "It was only a matter of looking to where the ball was going"]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 November 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
21. "Nuno Santos deixa Vitória de Guimarães e reforça Mamelodi Sundowns" [Nuno Santos leaves Vitória de Guimarães and bolsters Mamelodi Sundowns] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
22. Gleeson, Nic (23 September 2025). "Sundowns sign former Portuguese youth international". African Football. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
23. Esteves, Adérito (30 July 2018). "Conheça os 20 (mais um) campeões europeus de sub-19" [Meet the 20 (plus one) under-19 European champions] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
24. Amaro, Miguel (5 September 2019). "Portugal arranca qualificação com goleada" [Portugal start qualification with rout]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 February 2022.
25. Nuno Santos at Soccerway
26. "Benfica campeão nacional de juniores pela 24.ª vez" [Benfica national champions in juniors for the 24th time]. Público (in Portuguese). 19 May 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
27. "Benfica cai perante reviravolta do Salzburgo" [Benfica fall as Salzburg come from behind] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2022.

External links

• Nuno Santos at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Nuno Santos national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)