João Neves (footballer)

João Neves (footballer)
João Pedro Gonçalves Neves (born 27 September 2004), is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Portugal national team.
Coming through Benfica's youth system, Neves impressed during his time with the reserve side, winning the UEFA Youth League in 2021–22, being instrumental part of Benfica's first European trophy in 60 years. He was promoted to the first-team shortly after, making his professional debut at age 18, where he helped Benfica win the league title in his first season with them.
Neves is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various levels. He made his senior international debut in 2023, at 19 years old.
Club career
Early career
Born in Tavira, Neves began his youth career with hometown club Casa Benfica Tavira, one of Benfica's feeder club for four seasons, where his father worked as a coach, before moving to his boyhood club Benfica's youth academy in 2012. Neves signed his first professional contract with Benfica in December 2020.
Benfica
Neves played a major role in the 2021–22 UEFA Youth League, where Benfica U19 topped their group against Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. In the final, he helped his side defeat Red Bull Salzburg 6–0 to help Benfica win their first Youth League title, and their first title in European football since the 1961–62 European Cup. He made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 1–1 LigaPro draw to Académico de Viseu on 6 August 2022. On 24 August, Neves started in Benfica's 1–0 against Peñarol at the 2022 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.
Following the departure of Enzo Fernández in January 2023, he began training with the first team, after impressing newly arrived coach Roger Schmidt, making his debut in 3–0 loss to Braga in the Primeira Liga. The following day, Neves made his UEFA Champions League debut, replacing João Mário in the 74th minute and providing an assist on Benfica's fifth goal, in their 5–1 home win against Club Brugge in the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16. In the final months of the season, Neves eventually earned a place in the starting eleven over Florentino Luís, most notably scoring his first goal for the club on 21 May against crosstown rivals Sporting CP in the Derby de Lisboa, securing his side a draw after they were down by two goals at half-time. He would make 20 appearances for Benfica as they sealed their first league title in four years, following a 3–0 home win over Santa Clara, on the final day of the league campaign.
International career
Neves represented Portugal at under-15 and under-19, for a total of 21 caps. In June 2023, Neves took part in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, scoring his first goal on 27 June in a 2–1 against Belgium. Portugal were eliminated from the tournament, on 2 July, after a 1–0 loss to England in the quarter-finals.
On 6 October 2023, Neves was called up to the senior team for the first time for Euro 2024 qualifiers matches against Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He made his senior international debut on 16 October, coming off the bench to replace Otávio in the 85th minute of a 5–0 away victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Benfica Youth
Campeonato Nacional de Juniores: 2021–22
UEFA Youth League: 2021–22
Under-20 Intercontinental Cup: 2022
Benfica
Primeira Liga: 2022–23
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2023
Individual
Primeira Liga Midfielder of the Month: September 2023
References
External links
Profile at the S.L. Benfica website
2004 births
Living people
People from Tavira
Portuguese men's footballers
Portugal men's youth international footballers
Portugal men's under-21 international footballers
Portugal men's international footballers
Footballers from Faro District
Men's association football midfielders
Liga Portugal 2 players
Primeira Liga players
S.L. Benfica B players
S.L. Benfica footballers