# Nicholas Benavides

Nicholas Benavides Medeiros (Chinese: 尼高拉斯; born 5 November 2001) is a Hong Kong professional footballer of Chilean and Bolivian descent who currently plays as a left back or a left winger for Hong Kong Premier League club Tai Po and the Hong Kong national football team.

## Club career

Benavides started playing football at the age of six. As a youth player, Benavides joined the youth academy of Lee Man, before getting released due to his "foreign player" status. He started his senior career with First Division club Sham Shui Po, where he gained promotion to the Hong Kong Premier League in 2022.
On 3 March 2024, Benavides scored his first career hat-trick against Rangers in a 3–1 win, which is Sham Shui Po's first win of the season. He became a free agent following Sham Shui Po's voluntary relegation back to the First Division.
In the summer of 2024, Benavides signed for Tai Po. On 1 September 2024, he debuted for the club during a 5–1 home win over Kowloon City in the 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League.

## International career

Previously, Benavides was eligible to represent Bolivia and Chile internationally through his parents, but he relinquished his citizenship of both countries on 19 August 2023 in order to play for Hong Kong.
In October 2024, Benavides was called up to the Hong Kong national football team for the first time.
On 15 October 2024, Benavides made his international debut for Hong Kong in a 3–0 home friendly win against Cambodia.
On 8 December 2024, Benavides scored his first international goal in a 3–0 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifier victory against Mongolia.

## Personal life

Benavides was born in Hong Kong to a Bolivian mother and a Chilean father. He can speak Cantonese and Spanish and is the younger brother of Hong Kong footballer Oscar Benavides.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 23 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sham Shui Po | 2020–21 | Hong Kong First Division | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 |
| Sham Shui Po | 2021–22 | Hong Kong First Division | 9 | 4 | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | 15 | 7 |
| Sham Shui Po | 2022–23 | Hong Kong Premier League | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 2 |
| Sham Shui Po | 2023–24 | Hong Kong Premier League | 19 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 8 |
| Sham Shui Po | Total | Total | 50 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 78 | 21 |
| Tai Po | 2024–25 | Hong Kong Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 58 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 87 | 21 |
* 1 2 Appearances in the Sapling Cup
* 1 2 Appearances in the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield

### International

    As of 14 December 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Hong Kong | 2024 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | Total | 4 | 2 |

### International goals

| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 8 December 2024 | Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong | Mongolia | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying |
| 2. | 17 December 2024 | Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong | Guam | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying |
    Scores and results list Hong Kong's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benavides goal.