Nani (footballer) facts for kids

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Nani

Nani with Portugal in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Date of birth	(1986-11-17) 17 November 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Amadora, Portugal
Height	1.77 m
Playing position	Winger
Youth career
2000–2003	Real Massamá
2003–2005	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2007	Sporting CP	58	(9)
2007–2015	Manchester United	147	(25)
2014–2015	→ Sporting CP (loan)	27	(7)
2015–2016	Fenerbahçe	28	(8)
2016–2018	Valencia	25	(5)
2017–2018	→ Lazio (loan)	18	(3)
2018–2019	Sporting CP	18	(7)
2019–2021	Orlando City	77	(28)
2022	Venezia	10	(0)
2022–2023	Melbourne Victory	10	(0)
2023–2024	Adana Demirspor	28	(4)
2024	Estrela da Amadora	9	(1)
Total		455	(97)
National team
2006–2007	Portugal U21	11	(1)
2006	Portugal B	1	(0)
2006–2017	Portugal	112	(24)
Honours Men's football Representing  Portugal UEFA European Championship Winner 2016 FIFA Confederations Cup Third 2017
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (born 17 November 1986), known as Nani, is a Portuguese former professional footballer. He played as a winger, a player who plays on the sides of the field. Nani was famous for his speed, fancy moves, and hard work.

Nani started his career at Sporting CP in Portugal. He joined their youth team in 2003 and played for the first team from 2005. He won the Portuguese Cup with them. In 2007, Manchester United in England signed him. He quickly became a key player. With Manchester United, he won four Premier League titles, two League Cups, three FA Community Shields, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

After a loan spell back at Sporting, where he won another Portuguese Cup, he moved to Fenerbahçe in Turkey in 2015. A year later, he joined Valencia in Spain. He returned to Sporting in 2018, winning a third Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese League Cup. Then, he moved to Major League Soccer team Orlando City in the United States. He was their captain for three seasons. In 2022, he played for Venezia in Italy. After short times in Australia and Turkey, Nani announced he was stopping his football career in December 2024.

Nani first played for the Portugal national team in 2006. He quickly became an important player. He played in three European Championships (2008, 2012, and 2016) and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Nani started in the final of Euro 2016. When Cristiano Ronaldo got injured, Nani became the captain. He led the team to victory. He played 112 games for Portugal and scored 24 goals.

Early Life and Football Start

Nani was born in Amadora, Portugal, on 17 November 1986. His family has roots in Cape Verde. He grew up in Amadora with his aunt. His older brother taught him how to play football. He often played with his friend, Manuel Fernandes.

When Nani was about 14, his brother took him to train with Real Massamá. This was his first club. They helped him with money, food, and getting his ID. At 16, Nani trained with both Sporting CP and Benfica. He sometimes walked many miles to practice. Even though he grew up near Lisbon, Nani and his brother supported Porto. His football hero was Luís Figo.

Club Career Highlights

Sporting CP Beginnings

Nani joined Sporting CP from Real Massamá. After two years in the youth team, he moved to the first team in 2005. He played his first game for Sporting CP on 10 August 2005. He scored his first goal for the club on 30 October. In his first season, he scored 5 goals in 36 games.

Nani became well-known after scoring in the UEFA Champions League against Spartak Moscow in 2006. He helped Sporting win the Portuguese Cup in 2007. He was also named the Young Player of the Month for May 2007. In his second season, he played 40 games and scored 6 goals.

Manchester United Years

Nani with Gilberto Silva

Manchester United bought Nani for €25.5 million in 2007. He signed a five-year contract. He joined his Portuguese teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester. Nani scored in his first friendly game for United. He also scored in his first competitive game, helping United win the FA Community Shield on penalties.

Nani scored his first league goal for United on 26 August 2007. It was a long-range shot against Tottenham Hotspur. He also helped set up important goals for his teammates. On 16 February 2008, Nani played a great game against Arsenal in the FA Cup. He scored one goal and assisted two others in a 4–0 win.

On 23 March, Nani helped United beat rivals Liverpool 3–0. He set up one goal and scored another. On 21 May, Nani came on as a substitute in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final. He scored a crucial penalty in the shootout as United beat Chelsea.

Nani playing for United in 2008

After Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2009, many expected Nani to step up. He scored his first league goal of the 2009–10 season against Wigan Athletic. Nani had a talk with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, which helped his form improve. On 31 January 2010, Nani scored and assisted in a 3–1 win over Arsenal. He signed a new four-year contract with United in March 2010. He scored his first European goals for United on 7 April, scoring twice against Bayern Munich.

Nani had an excellent 2010–11 season. He scored his first goal of the season against West Ham United. He also scored a controversial goal against Tottenham Hotspur. Nani scored the winning goal against Stoke City in January 2011. He scored his first Manchester derby goal against Manchester City in February. Nani was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He was also named Manchester United's Players' Player of the Year.

Nani celebrates scoring against West Bromwich Albion in 2010

In the 2011–12 season, Nani started strong. He scored two goals against Manchester City in the Community Shield, including a late winner. He scored his first league goal of the season in an 8–2 win over Arsenal. Nani made his 100th Premier League appearance in September, scoring against Chelsea. He was also nominated for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or award.

The 2012–13 season saw Nani play less due to injuries. He scored only one league goal. However, United won the league title, giving Nani his fourth Premier League medal. In the Champions League, Nani was sent off against Real Madrid. This red card was a big moment in the game, which United eventually lost.

Nani renewed his contract with Manchester United in September 2013. However, he struggled with injuries and form during the 2013–14 season. He scored only once that season.

Loan to Sporting CP

On 19 August 2014, Nani returned to Sporting CP on a one-year loan from Manchester United. He was given the number 77 shirt. He scored his first goal of this loan spell in the Champions League against Maribor. He also scored his first league goal for Sporting in a 4–0 win. Nani helped Sporting win the Portuguese Cup final in a penalty shootout. This was the club's first trophy since 2008.

Fenerbahçe and Valencia

Nani with Fenerbahçe in 2015

In July 2015, Nani joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe. He signed a three-year deal. He scored two goals against Antalyaspor in August. In May 2016, Nani was sent off in the Turkish Cup final.

In July 2016, Nani signed for Spanish club Valencia. He signed a three-year contract. He made his debut on 27 August. On 25 September, in his 500th professional game, he scored his first goal for Valencia. He faced several muscle injuries during his time at Valencia.

Loan to Lazio and Return to Sporting

On 31 August 2017, Nani joined Lazio in Italy on a loan deal. He scored his first goal for Lazio on 29 October.

On 11 July 2018, Nani rejoined Sporting CP for a third time. He scored twice in his second game back. In January 2019, he scored Sporting's final penalty in the Portuguese League Cup final, which they won.

Orlando City and Later Career

On 18 February 2019, Nani moved to Orlando City in the United States. He signed a three-year contract. He made his debut on 2 March, getting an assist. On 6 April 2019, he scored his first two goals for the team, including a winning penalty.

In July 2020, Nani helped Orlando City reach the final of the MLS is Back Tournament. He scored two goals in the semi-finals. On 26 November 2021, Nani announced he was leaving Orlando City.

In January 2022, he signed with Italian club Venezia. His contract ended in July 2022. On 12 July 2022, Nani signed with A-League Men club Melbourne Victory in Australia. In January 2023, he suffered a serious knee injury. He left the club in May 2023.

On 13 July 2023, Nani joined Süper Lig club Adana Demirspor in Turkey. He played 28 league games and scored 4 goals. On 13 May 2024, he left the club. After playing for Estrela Amadora, Nani announced his retirement from football on 8 December 2024.

International Career

Portugal Under-21 Team

Nani was the youngest player in the Portugal U21 squad for the 2006 UEFA Under-21 Championship. He played in all three matches. He also played in the 2007 European Under-21 Football Championship, scoring one goal.

Portugal Senior Team

Nani in action for Portugal in 2008

Nani played his first game for the senior Portuguese team on 1 September 2006. He scored a goal in his debut. Nani was part of Portugal's squad for Euro 2008. He played three matches and assisted a goal in the quarter-final.

Nani helped Portugal qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He scored goals in the qualification games. He was named in Portugal's squad for the tournament. However, he had to miss the World Cup due to a shoulder injury.

Nani scored twice and assisted once in a Euro 2012 qualifying win over Denmark in October 2010. He scored two more goals against Iceland in 2011.

Nani started in the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup for Portugal. He scored the first goal for Portugal in a 2–2 draw with the United States.

UEFA Euro 2016 Victory

Nani scored Portugal's first goal in a 3–3 draw against Hungary at Euro 2016. This helped the team reach the knockout stage. He then helped set up the only goal in a 1–0 win against Croatia. In the quarter-final against Poland, Nani assisted a goal and scored in the penalty shootout. In the semi-finals against Wales, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 victory.

In the final against host nation France, Nani became the captain. This happened after Cristiano Ronaldo got injured early in the game. Portugal won the match 1–0 in extra time. This was a huge victory for Nani and his country.

Nani during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

Nani scored a goal in a 4–0 win over New Zealand in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. Portugal finished third in this tournament. In May 2018, Nani was named in Portugal's first squad for the 2018 World Cup. However, he did not make the final team.

Playing Style

Nani was known for his speed and amazing dribbling skills. He could play on both the left and right wings. He often used his tricks to create space and send crosses into the box for his teammates. While he could score from long distances, he was especially good at providing assists. Nani could also play as a second striker or even a main striker.

Goal Celebration

Nani famously celebrated his goals with a somersault. This move is called a "mortal" in Portuguese. He learned this from capoeira, a Brazilian martial art he practiced as a child. There were rumors that his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, banned the celebration because it was dangerous. However, Nani said this was not true and continued to celebrate with his signature somersault.

Career Statistics

Club

International

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

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	1 September 2006	Brøndby Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark	1	Denmark	2–2	2–4	Friendly
2	2 June 2007	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	6	Belgium	1–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
3	20 August 2008	Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal	17	Faroe Islands	5–0	5–0	Friendly
4	6 September 2008	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta	18	Malta	4–0	4–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	10 September 2008	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	19	Denmark	1–0	2–3	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	14 October 2009	Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal	31	Malta	1–0	4–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
7	1 June 2010	Complexo Desportivo da Covilhã, Covilhã, Portugal	36	Cameroon	3–1	3–1	Friendly
8	8 October 2010	Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal	39	Denmark	1–0	3–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
9					2–0
10	7 October 2011	Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal	48	Iceland	1–0	5–3	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
11					2–0
12	15 November 2011	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	51	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–0	6–2	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
13	2 June 2012	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	54	Turkey	1–2	1–3	Friendly
14	15 October 2013	Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal	70	Luxembourg	2–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
15	22 June 2014	Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil	77	United States	1–0	2–2	2014 FIFA World Cup
16	11 October 2015	Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia	90	Serbia	1–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
17	17 November 2015	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg	92	Luxembourg	2–0	2–0	Friendly
18	29 March 2016	Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal	94	Belgium	1–0	2–1	Friendly
19	14 June 2016	Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne, France	97	Iceland	1–0	1–1	UEFA Euro 2016
20	22 June 2016	Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, France	99	Hungary	1–1	3–3	UEFA Euro 2016
21	6 July 2016	Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon, France	102	Wales	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2016
22	1 September 2016	Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal	104	Gibraltar	1–0	5–0	Friendly
23					2–0
24	24 June 2017	Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia	110	New Zealand	4–0	4–0	2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

Honours and Awards

Sporting CP

• Taça de Portugal: 2006–07, 2014–15, 2018–19
• Taça da Liga: 2018–19

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
• Football League Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10
• FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
• UEFA Champions League: 2007–08
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Portugal

• UEFA European Championship: 2016

Individual Awards

• SJPF Young Player of the Month: May 2007
• PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 Premier League
• Most assists in the Premier League: 2010–11
• Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2010–11
• SJPF Player of the Month: October/November 2014
• Sporting CP Footballer of the Year: 2015
• MLS All-Star: 2019, 2021

Orders

• Commander of the Order of Merit

See also

• List of footballers with 100 or more caps