João Cancelo

João Cancelo, born on May 27, 1994, is a distinguished Portuguese professional footballer who currently plays as a full-back for La Liga club Barcelona, on loan from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. His football journey began at Benfica's youth academy, where he honed his skills before making his way to the club's reserve team in 2012. Just two years later, he was promoted to the first team, marking the start of an impressive career.

In the 2014–15 season, Cancelo was loaned to La Liga club Valencia, a move that became permanent in 2015. His talent shone brightly during his time in Spain, leading to a loan to Serie A's Inter Milan in the 2017–18 season, where he earned a spot in Serie A's Team of the Year. His exceptional performances caught the attention of Juventus, who signed him in 2018 for a reported fee of forty million four hundred thousand euros. At Juventus, Cancelo celebrated league and Supercoppa Italiana victories in his debut season.

In 2019, Cancelo made a significant move to the English Premier League, joining Manchester City. His tenure there was marked by success, as he helped the team secure three Premier League titles and the EFL Cup. Notably, he played a crucial role in Manchester City's journey to their first UEFA Champions League final during the 2020–21 season. Following his time in England, he was loaned to Bayern Munich, where he won a Bundesliga title, before returning to Barcelona on loan in January 2026 after signing with Al Hilal in 2024.

On the international stage, Cancelo made his senior debut for Portugal in 2016, having previously represented the nation at various youth levels. He has earned seventy-five caps and scored three goals for the national team. His contributions were pivotal in Portugal's under-21 team reaching the final of the 2015 UEFA European Championship, and he was part of the squad that won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 on home soil.