# Johnny Cardoso

João Lucas de Souza Cardoso (born September 20, 2001), better known as Johnny Cardoso or just Johnny, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Betis and the United States national team.

## Early life

Cardoso was born in Denville Township, New Jersey, United States, to Brazilian parents and moved to Brazil when he was three months old. He had stints at Avaí and Criciúma before moving to the youth academy of Internacional.

## Club career
### Internacional

Cardoso made his professional debut with Internacional in a 3–1 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A win over Atlético Mineiro on September 15, 2019.

### Real Betis

On December 27, 2023, Cardoso moved to La Liga club Real Betis on a reported five-year contract worth $6.3 million. On January 21, 2024, Cardoso made his debut for Betis, starting and playing 73 minutes in a league match against FC Barcelona which finished in a 2–4 loss. As part of Giovani Lo Celso's transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Betis in 2024, Tottenham acquired a non-mandatory €25 million purchase option for Cardoso in summer 2025. On February 4, 2025, Cardoso extended his contract with Betis until 2030.

## International career

Eligible to represent both Brazil and the United States, Cardoso received his first call-up to the United States under-23 training camp in October 2019. He received his first call up to the senior United States squad for matches against Wales and Panama in November 2020.
Cardoso was subsequently called up again to the United States under-23 team for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship, in which the United States failed to qualify for the Olympics.

## Personal life

Cardoso holds an Italian passport, which allows him to be registered as an EU player for European leagues.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played March 9, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | State league | State league | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Internacional | 2019 | Campeonato Brasileiro | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Internacional | 2020 | Campeonato Brasileiro | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Internacional | 2021 | Campeonato Brasileiro | 27 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
| Internacional | 2022 | Campeonato Brasileiro | 24 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 3 |
| Internacional | 2023 | Campeonato Brasileiro | 22 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 49 | 2 |
| Internacional | Total | Total | 87 | 5 | 30 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 144 | 7 |
| Betis | 2023–24 | La Liga | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Betis | 2024–25 | La Liga | 20 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 33 | 2 |
| Betis | Total | Total | 37 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 52 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 124 | 7 | 30 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 31 | 1 | 196 | 10 |
* ↑ Includes Campeonato Gaúcho
* ↑ Includes Copa do Brasil, Copa del Rey
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League

### International

    As of match played November 14, 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| United States | 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| United States | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| United States | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| United States | 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| United States | 2024 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 18 | 0 |

## Honors

United States
* CONCACAF Nations League: 2022–23, 2023–24
Individual
* La Liga U23 Player of the Month: February 2024