Nélson Semedo facts for kids
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Semedo with Portugal in 2017
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 16 November 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Right-back, right wing-back | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Wolverhampton Wanderers | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2011 | Sintrense | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Sintrense | 26 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | Benfica B | 63 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | → Fátima (loan) | 29 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Benfica | 43 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2020 | Barcelona | 82 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2020– | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 147 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Portugal U23 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015– | Portugal | 40 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Nélson Cabral Semedo (born on November 16, 1993) is a professional footballer from Portugal. He plays as a right-back or right wing-back for the English club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he is the team's captain. He also plays for the Portugal national team.
Semedo started his football journey at Sintrense before joining Benfica in 2012. He spent a season on loan at Fátima. Then, he played for Benfica B before joining the main Benfica team in 2015. With Benfica, he won two Primeira Liga titles in a row. In July 2017, he moved to Barcelona and won La Liga twice in his three years there. In September 2020, Semedo signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He first played for the senior Portugal team in October 2015. He has represented Portugal in big tournaments like the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. He helped Portugal win the 2019 UEFA Nations League on their home ground.
Semedo's Club Career Journey
Starting Out at Benfica
Nélson Semedo was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He grew up playing football in the youth system at Sintrense. He made his first appearance for their senior team when he was just 17 years old. On January 12, 2012, he signed a five-year contract with Benfica. He then spent the 2012–13 season on loan at Fátima, playing in Portugal's third division.
Semedo came back to Benfica in 2013 and joined their B-team in the Segunda Liga. He played his first professional game on August 10, 2013, in a 0–0 draw against Trofense. After playing almost 60 games for the B-team, people started to see him as a future star for Benfica's main team.
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After a key player left, Semedo extended his contract until 2021 and joined the first team for their pre-season tour in July 2015. On August 9, 2015, he played his first game for the main team in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, which they lost 0–1 to Sporting CP. A week later, he scored his first goal for Benfica against Estoril in the Primeira Liga, helping his team win 4–0 at home.
Semedo became a regular starter, but in October 2015, he got injured while playing for the Portugal national team. He needed surgery on his right knee and was expected to be out for two months. He returned in January but struggled to find his best form and lost his starting spot. He finished that season playing for the reserve team again.
In the 2016–17 season, Semedo got his starting position back. He was one of Benfica's most active players as the club won their fourth league title in a row. He scored one goal in the league against Arouca and another in the UEFA Champions League against Beşiktaş.
In the Taça de Portugal final on May 28, 2017, Semedo helped set up the second goal for Benfica, who won the trophy by beating Vitória de Guimarães 2–1. Because of his great performances that season, he won the "Breakthrough Player of the Year" award from the Portuguese league.
Playing for Barcelona
On July 13, 2017, Barcelona announced they had agreed to sign Semedo from Benfica. He signed a five-year contract the next day. Benfica received €30.5 million for the transfer, plus an extra €5 million for every 50 games he played for Barcelona. He played his first game for Barcelona on August 16 in the Supercopa de España against Real Madrid, which they lost 0–2.
Semedo made his UEFA Champions League debut for Barcelona on September 13, 2017. He was praised for his performance in a 3–0 win against Juventus. He scored his first goal for Barcelona in La Liga on January 27, 2019, in a 2–0 away win against Girona. His second goal came against Alavés in a big 5–0 win during the last match of that season.
Joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
On September 23, 2020, Semedo moved to the English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers. He signed a three-year contract, with an option for two more years. The transfer fee was about €30 million (around £27.5 million).
Semedo made his debut for Wolves and his first appearance in the Premier League on September 27, 2020, in a 4–0 loss to West Ham United. He played his first game at Wolves' home stadium, Molineux, on October 4, 2020, in a 1–0 win against Fulham. He scored his first goal for Wolves in the last game of the 2020–21 Premier League season, a 1–2 home defeat to Manchester United on May 23, 2021.
Semedo got a hamstring injury in a game against Arsenal on February 24, 2022. This injury meant he would miss four to eight weeks of play. He had played in 23 of Wolves' 25 Premier League games that season before his injury. Semedo returned to play on April 24, 2022, in a Premier League game against Burnley, playing the whole match.
On May 19, 2023, Wolves announced that they had extended Semedo's contract for two more years, keeping him at the club until 2025.
On January 16, 2024, Semedo scored his first goal for Wolves in two years. It was in an F.A. Cup match against Brentford, which Wolves won 3–2. His previous goal had also been in the F.A. Cup, against Sheffield United in January 2022.
On December 13, 2024, Semedo was named the new club captain for Wolverhampton Wanderers, taking over from Mario Lemina.
Nélson Semedo's International Career
Nélson Semedo has roots in Cape Verde. He was first called to play for the Portugal national team on October 2, 2015. This was for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches. He earned his first cap (played his first game) in the match against Serbia, playing the entire 2–1 win.
Semedo was chosen for Portugal's team for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played in the last group stage match, a 4–0 win against New Zealand. He also played in the third-place playoff game against Mexico. In that game, he was sent off (had to leave the field) in the 106th minute, but his team still won the bronze medal.
Semedo was included in Portugal's first list of 35 players for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, he was not chosen for the final 23-man squad that went to the tournament. In October 2022, he was again named in Portugal's preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Semedo's Style of Play
Nélson Semedo is known for his amazing speed on the field. He is also very good at controlling the ball, dribbling past opponents, and keeping possession of the ball. These skills make him a strong player in his position.
Honours and Achievements
Nélson Semedo has won many titles and awards throughout his career:
With Benfica
- Primeira Liga: 2015–16, 2016–17 (Portuguese League Champion)
- Taça de Portugal: 2016–17 (Portuguese Cup Winner)
- Taça da Liga: 2015–16 (Portuguese League Cup Winner)
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2016 (Portuguese Super Cup Winner)
With Barcelona
- La Liga: 2017–18, 2018–19 (Spanish League Champion)
- Copa del Rey: 2017–18 (Spanish Cup Winner)
- Supercopa de España: 2018 (Spanish Super Cup Winner)
With Portugal National Team
- UEFA Nations League: 2018–19 (Winner)
- FIFA Confederations Cup: Third place in 2017
Individual Awards
- SJPF Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2016, 2017 (Chosen as one of the best players in the Portuguese League)
- LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2016–17 (Recognized as the best new player in the Portuguese League)
- UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2017 (Named in a team of rising stars in the Champions League)
- UEFA Nations League Finals Team of the Tournament: 2019 (Chosen as one of the best players in the Nations League finals)
Personal Life
Nélson Semedo is a family man and has two children, a daughter and a son.
Images for kids
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Semedo playing at 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
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See also
In Spanish: Nélson Semedo para niñosFC Barcelona players
