João Cancelo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
João Cancelo

Cancelo playing for Manchester City in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth	(1994-05-27) 27 May 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth	Barreiro, Portugal
Height	1.82 m
Playing position	Full-back
Club information
Current club	Al Hilal
Number	20
Youth career
2002–2007	Barreirense
2007–2012	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2012–2014	Benfica B	51	(3)
2014–2015	Benfica	1	(0)
2014–2015	→ Valencia (loan)	10	(0)
2015–2018	Valencia	64	(2)
2017–2018	→ Inter Milan (loan)	26	(1)
2018–2019	Juventus	25	(1)
2019–2024	Manchester City	98	(5)
2023	→ Bayern Munich (loan)	15	(1)
2023–2024	→ Barcelona (loan)	32	(2)
2024–	Al Hilal	14	(0)
National team‡
2010	Portugal U16	6	(0)
2010–2011	Portugal U17	17	(1)
2011–2012	Portugal U18	7	(0)
2012–2013	Portugal U19	25	(1)
2013–2014	Portugal U20	9	(0)
2014–2017	Portugal U21	11	(1)
2016–	Portugal	60	(10)
Honours Representing  Portugal UEFA Nations League Winner 2019 Portugal UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2015 Czech Republic
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:13, 21 January 2025 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:07, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

João Pedro Cavaco Cancelo (born on May 27, 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer. He mostly plays as a full-back. Currently, he plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. He also plays for the Portugal national team.

Cancelo started his career at Benfica's youth academy. He joined their reserve team in 2012 and the main team two years later. He then moved to La Liga club Valencia in 2014, first on loan, then permanently. In 2017, he was loaned to Serie A team Inter Milan. His great play there earned him a spot in the Serie A's Team of the Year.

In 2018, Juventus signed Cancelo for about €40.4 million. He won the league title and the Supercoppa Italiana with Juventus in his only season there. In 2019, he joined English club Manchester City. With them, he won three Premier League titles and the EFL Cup. He also helped Manchester City reach their first UEFA Champions League final in the 2020–21 season. Later, Cancelo played on loan for Bayern Munich, winning a Bundesliga title, and Barcelona. In 2024, he signed with Al-Hilal.

Cancelo first played for Portugal's senior team in 2016. Before that, he played for all of Portugal's youth teams. He was part of Portugal's under-21 team that reached the 2015 UEFA European Championship final. He also helped Portugal win the first UEFA Nations League in 2019.

Club Career Highlights

Starting with Benfica

João Cancelo was born in Barreiro, Portugal. He began playing football at a local club called Barreirense. In 2007, when he was 13, he joined Benfica's youth system. He played as a full-back there.

On July 28, 2012, Cancelo played his first game for Benfica's main team. It was a friendly match against Gil Vicente. He played the whole game as a right back. He also played for Benfica's junior team. In 2013, he scored two important goals to help them win the national championship.

Cancelo played his first official game for Benfica on January 25, 2014. He came in as a substitute in a 1–0 win against Gil Vicente. This was in the Taça da Liga, which Benfica later won. His first game in the Primeira Liga (Portugal's top league) was on May 10. Benfica had already won the league title that season. He started in a 2–1 loss against Porto.

Playing for Valencia

Joining Valencia and Becoming a Regular

Cancelo playing for Valencia in 2015

On August 20, 2014, Cancelo joined Valencia in Spain. He was on loan for one year, and Valencia had the option to buy him for €15 million. He played his first La Liga game on September 25. He played the whole game in a 3–0 home win against Córdoba.

He sometimes played as a right winger. His good performances, especially against Levante in April 2015, earned him the "man of the match" award. He finished the season with 13 appearances. Because of his good play, Valencia decided to sign him permanently. On May 25, he agreed to a contract with Valencia until 2021 for €15 million.

In the next season, Cancelo became a regular starter. He made his Champions League debut on September 16. He scored his first goal for Valencia in a 2–3 home loss to Zenit Saint Petersburg. This made him the fifth youngest player to score for Valencia in the Champions League. He also scored his first goal in the Copa del Rey in December. In April, he scored his first league goal in a 4–0 win against Eibar.

Final Season with Valencia

In the 2016–17 season, Cancelo's play was a bit up and down. He made a mistake that led to a penalty in Valencia's first league match. But his performances got better. He started playing more often as a right winger. He scored his first league goal of the season on April 2 in a 3–0 win against Deportivo La Coruña.

Loan to Inter Milan

On August 22, 2017, Cancelo joined Inter Milan in Italy on a one-year loan. He made his Serie A debut four days later. He came on as a substitute in a 3–1 win against Roma.

Cancelo got a knee injury in August 2017 while playing for his country. He was out for about a month and a half. He returned to play in a 3–2 win against AC Milan. He scored his first league goal for Inter on April 17, 2018, from a free kick. This was in a 4–0 home win against Cagliari. His play improved a lot during the season. He was even included in Serie A's Team of the Year. However, Inter decided not to buy him permanently.

Time at Juventus

Cancelo (right) playing for Juventus in 2018

On June 27, 2018, Juventus signed Cancelo on a five-year contract for €40.4 million. He played his first league game for them on August 18. It was a 3–2 away win against Chievo Verona. He won his first trophy with Juventus in January 2019. This was the Supercoppa Italiana, where they beat Milan 1–0.

He scored his first league goal that same month. His team came from behind to beat Lazio 2–1. He also helped win a crucial penalty in that game. On October 6, Cancelo set up a goal for Rodrigo Bentancur in a 2–0 win against Udinese. On December 7, he assisted a goal for Mario Mandžukić in a 1–0 win against his old club Inter Milan.

On April 10, 2019, Cancelo assisted a goal for Cristiano Ronaldo in a Champions League quarter-final match against Ajax. Juventus lost the second leg and were knocked out of the competition. Four days later, Cancelo played in the match where Juventus won their eighth league title in a row. They beat Fiorentina 2–1 at home.

Playing for Manchester City

Joining Manchester City and Early Challenges

On August 7, 2019, Cancelo joined Premier League club Manchester City. He signed a six-year contract. The deal was worth £27.4 million, plus Danilo moving to Juventus. This made him one of the most expensive right backs ever. On August 25, he played his first Premier League game. He came on as a substitute in a 3–1 win against Bournemouth. On December 18, he scored his first goal for City. It was in a 3–1 win against Oxford United in the EFL Cup.

At first, Cancelo found it hard to settle in during his first season. He struggled to find his best position and did not always start games. He was competing with Kyle Walker for the right-back spot.

Breakthrough and European Final

Cancelo playing for Manchester City in 2021

On October 17, 2020, Cancelo made his first league start of the new season. This was after an injury, in a 1–0 win against Arsenal. On November 3, he scored his first Champions League goal for City. It was in a 3–0 home win against Olympiacos. On January 26, 2021, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 5–0 win against West Bromwich Albion. On February 24, he was named "man of the match." He assisted a goal for Bernardo Silva in City's 2–0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

During this season, Cancelo became very important for Manchester City. He was good at moving from full-back into the middle of the field. This helped his team control the ball and defend better. His play was a key reason Manchester City won the Premier League title that season. He was also named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

Winning Another Premier League Title

On October 17, 2021, Cancelo scored his first goal of the season. It was in a 6–3 Champions League win against RB Leipzig. On November 3, he provided three assists in a 4–1 Champions League win against Club Brugge. He was named "man of the match" again. On November 6, in the Manchester derby, Cancelo helped create both goals in a 2–0 win against Manchester United. He forced an own goal and assisted Bernardo Silva. On December 19, in his 100th game for the club, he scored a long-range shot and assisted a goal in a 4–0 win against Newcastle United.

Loan to Bayern Munich

On January 31, 2023, Cancelo was loaned to Bayern Munich for the rest of the season. Bayern had an option to buy him for €70 million. Reports said that Cancelo had some disagreements with his manager, Pep Guardiola, because he wasn't playing as much. After the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Cancelo started losing his place in the team. This led to his loan move.

Cancelo played his first game for Bayern in a 4–0 win against Mainz 05. He assisted a goal for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. On March 11, he scored his first goal for Bayern in a 5–3 win against Augsburg. On April 12, Cancelo played against his parent club, Manchester City, in the Champions League. He came on as a substitute in a 3–0 loss. Some City fans booed him, but Guardiola defended him. He said Cancelo had been an important player for City and his quality was clear. Bayern was knocked out of the Champions League after losing 4–1 on total score. On May 27, 2023, Cancelo played the whole game in a 2–1 win against FC Köln. This win helped Bayern clinch their 11th league title in a row. Cancelo became one of only a few players to win two league titles in different countries in one season. At the end of the season, Bayern decided not to buy Cancelo permanently.

Loan to Barcelona

After his loan to Bayern, Cancelo returned to Manchester City for pre-season. However, he didn't play in any of City's first few league games. He wanted to move away from the club. On September 1, Barcelona confirmed they had signed Cancelo on a season-long loan. Their manager, Xavi, really wanted to sign him.

He played his first game for Barcelona two days later. He came on as a substitute in a 2–1 win against Osasuna. On September 16, Cancelo scored his first goal for Barcelona. It was in a big 5–0 win against Real Betis. This goal won him the La Liga Goal of the Month award. On November 28, he scored and assisted in a 2–1 comeback win against Porto in the Champions League. This win helped Barcelona reach the next round for the first time since the 2020–21 season.

Moving to Al-Hilal

On August 27, 2024, Cancelo signed with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. He signed a three-year contract in a deal reportedly worth £21.2 million.

International Career

Youth Teams

Cancelo playing for Portugal U19 in 2012

Cancelo played for Portugal's under-19 team in the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. He also played in the next tournament in Lithuania.

With the under-20s, Cancelo played in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2014 Toulon Tournament. In the World Cup, Portugal reached the round of 16.

Cancelo was part of the under-21 squad that played in the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He played in the semi-final win against Germany. Portugal finished as runner-up to Sweden in the final.

Senior National Team

Cancelo was first called up to Portugal's senior team on August 26, 2016. He played the full game in a 5–0 friendly win against Gibraltar on September 1, scoring the third goal. The next month, he scored two more goals in World Cup qualifiers.

In May 2018, Cancelo was in a list of 35 players for the World Cup in Russia, but he didn't make the final team. He played in all four matches of the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League group stage. This helped Portugal qualify for the first Nations League Finals in June 2019. Portugal won the trophy by beating the Netherlands 1–0.

Cancelo was chosen for Portugal's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 in June 2021. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 two days before their first match. He was replaced in the squad by Diogo Dalot.

In October 2022, he was named in Portugal's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Cancelo started Portugal's group stage matches. But he later lost his starting spot to Diogo Dalot. Portugal won their round of 16 game 6–1 against Switzerland. In the quarter-final against Morocco, Cancelo came on as a substitute. Portugal lost 1–0 and were eliminated.

During UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, Cancelo played nine times and scored three goals. Portugal won all ten matches in their group. On May 21, 2024, Cancelo was named in Portugal's squad for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. He played in the first two group matches and the round of 16 game. Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals by France after a penalty shootout.

How João Cancelo Plays

Cancelo is known for his speed, energy, and how well he attacks. He also has great technique, dribbling skills, creativity, and crossing ability. He can play as a full-back or a winger on either side of the field, but he usually plays on the right. When he was at Manchester City, many people thought he was one of the best full-backs in Europe. Even though he is great at attacking, some people have said his defensive skills could be better.

When he plays as a traditional full-back, he knows when to run forward. He often moves forward with the ball instead of just running past teammates. He prefers to receive the ball to his feet. When he has the ball, he can cut inside from the right side or go around the outside. He often crosses the ball with his weaker left foot. He is a very strong dribbler, and because he is good with both feet, he is hard to defend against. His speed also helps him get back quickly when his team loses the ball.

In his second season at Manchester City, under manager Pep Guardiola, Cancelo became a "hybrid" player. This means he played as both a full-back and a central midfielder in the same game. When City didn't have the ball, Cancelo would move into central midfield. This helped his team control the middle of the field. He became one of City's best creative players. He often made clever passes into the penalty area or through defenders. When he played deeper, he was good at moving into midfield and sending long passes over the top for teammates to run onto. By adding an extra player in midfield, Cancelo helped City defend better when they lost the ball.

Personal Life

In January 2013, Cancelo's mother passed away in a car accident. Cancelo and his brother were in the car but only had minor injuries. This event was very difficult for him, and he thought about quitting football.

Cancelo and his girlfriend, Daniela Machado, have a daughter born in 2019. In December 2021, their home in Manchester was broken into. Cancelo tried to defend himself and got some facial injuries. But he said his family was safe.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Portugal score listed first, score column indicates score after each Cancelo goal.

List of international goals scored by João Cancelo

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	1 September 2016	Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal	1	Gibraltar	3–0	5–0	Friendly
2	7 October 2016	Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal	2	Andorra	3–0	6–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	10 October 2016	Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	3	Faroe Islands	6–0	6–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	5 September 2020	Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal	16	Croatia	1–0	4–1	2020–21 UEFA Nations League A
5	9 June 2021	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	26	Israel	3–0	4–0	Friendly
6	5 June 2022	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	33	Switzerland	4–0	4–0	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
7	9 June 2022	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	34	Czech Republic	1–0	2–0	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
8	23 March 2023	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	41	Liechtenstein	1–0	4–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
9	16 October 2023	Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica Bosnia and Herzegovina	48	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
10	16 November 2023	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein	49	Liechtenstein	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Honours and Awards

Benfica

• Primeira Liga: 2013–14

Juventus

• Serie A: 2018–19
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2018

Manchester City

• Premier League: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
• FA Cup: 2022–23
• EFL Cup: 2020–21
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2020–21

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 2022–23

Portugal U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2015

Portugal

• UEFA Nations League: 2018–19

Individual Awards

• Serie A Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2020–21, 2021–22
• ESM Team of the Year: 2020–21, 2021–22
• UEFA Champions League Fantasy Football Team of the Season: 2021–22
• FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2022
• La Liga Goal of the Month: September 2023

See also

In Spanish: João Cancelo para niños