João FELIX: Profile and Report
João Felix Sequeira
Profile
Date of Birth: 10 November 1999
Height: 1.8m
Main Position: Second Striker
Current club: Benfica
International status: Capped at senior level for Portugal.
Int’l Debut: 5 June 2019 - vs Switzerland (UEFA Nations League semi-final).
Style of Play
Felix has often been compared to Portuguese legend Rui Costa. Playing in that similar role just behind a more natural striker, the similarities are clear, with both possessing excellent technique and goalscoring potential.
Felix could also be compared to Antoine Griezmann. Like the Frenchman, Felix works hard for his team both in the attacking department and with defending from the front, willing to put pressure on the opposition defenders, as well as looking to link up with those around him - and create goalscoring opportunities for himself too.
Like Griezmann, despite lacking in height advantage and physicality, he also possesses heading ability, in addition to having a good range of shooting, proven to score both poachers efforts in the box, and powerful efforts from inside.
Felix therefore likes to have the freedom and license to float around the front line, taking up spaces deep in opposition territory both centrally and on the wing, helping create opening for his team and the opposition.
Standout moment:
Becoming the youngest player in history to score a hattrick in the UEFA Europa League when he scored 3 times against Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-final (April 2019).
Strengths:
Felix, in that free role alongside an out-and-out striker, has excellent positional awareness, able to get in between the lines and create space and openings for his team with good movement and link-up play and the ability to play impeccably timed and weighted through-balls. It is his vision that gives him an extra dimension, offering pin-point passing both to feet and into space.
Additionally, Felix possesses very powerful and accurate shooting, putting his laces through the ball to prove a high-quality finisher. He also has the confidence and quality to shoot from range, as well as being able to act as a fox-in-the-box.
As you would expect from an attacking midfielder/second striker, Felix also possesses good dribbling ability, able to take on his man and, more often than not, win those duels. He also has excellent first touch control, allowing him to get out of tight spots, and pace to match so he can lead counter-attacking moves.
Weaknesses
The major weakness you would point to for Felix is his lack of physicality. Being a small and slender player, Felix could find himself shrugged off the ball with relative ease, particularly in more physical leagues, and developing his strengths is one area that he’s currently working on.
Additionally, Felix generally proves relatively ineffective as a lone striker; he operates best when he has another generally more physical striker to play off - with Benfica, that has proven to be Seferovic.
“João Felix can [win the Ballon d’Or]. He has a long future ahead of him and will be a top player, I have no doubt.”
2-0 to Benfica - and another goal from João Felix! Another delightful one this one, composed and assured. Turned in the box, and absolutely blasted it, like he so often does, into the roof of the net! Quality. pic.twitter.com/O7UsDFEKRC
— Alex Goncalves (@Aljeeves10) May 18, 2019
He's done it again!!
— Alex Goncalves (@Aljeeves10) April 22, 2019
João Felix with yet another nonchalant rocket into the back of the net to give Benfica a VERY early lead against Maritimo! He just cannot stop scoring! This guy.
Those in the UK can watch right now, live and free, on @FreeSports_TV!pic.twitter.com/qmjomAjbNu
