Cristiano Ronaldo is the current, Joao Felix is the longer term for Portugal. Can they win the Nations League?

Whether or not the phrase bought round to Cristiano Ronaldo is unclear, however Pep Guardiola’s opinion that Bernardo Silva is “already the most important star” on the Portugal nationwide staff made headlines in Lisbon and Porto. On depart from worldwide responsibility for the Nations League video games final September, October and November, Ronaldo reappeared for his nation on the subsequent obtainable alternative after that comment. A coincidence and nothing extra, absolutely.

Three years on from his Euro 2016 triumph in Paris, the coach of the Selecao, Fernando Santos, finds himself in an enviable place. It is not simply the most recent bloom in Bernardo’s growth and the extent of confidence he provides Portugal as they put together to take advantage of house benefit and seize the possibility to elevate the inaugural Nations League in entrance of their very own followers. It is also the brand new technology succeeding the outdated.

Ronaldo might imagine he has the organic age of a 23-year-old — he could nicely find yourself Tom Brady-ing his manner into his 40s for all we all know — however because the muscle damage he suffered in his comeback towards Serbia confirmed, to say nothing of the knee pressure that introduced his look within the Euro 2016 last to a untimely finish, Portugal can now not depend on him as a lot as they did prior to now. Bernardo and Bruno Fernandes are stepping up, however thankfully for Santos and Portuguese soccer as an entire, a star of even perhaps better potential was born this season.

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The primary whispers a few new Portuguese wonderkid began two years in the past as Joao Felix impressed Benfica to the ultimate of the UEFA Youth League. Already an everyday for Benfica II, the membership’s second staff, one Segunda Liga document after one other tumbled because the precocious Felix first turned the youngest participant ever to make an look in Portugal’s second tier, then its youngest aim scorer after which its youngest hat trick hero with an eyebrow-raising show towards Famalicao.

Not precisely wanting contemporary expertise — Portugal gained the Beneath-17 Euros in 2016 and the Beneath-19 equal final summer season — Felix, who didn’t function in both of these successes, is taken into account the nation’s finest prospect since Ronaldo.

Insulted by “a dozen imbeciles” as he joined up with the senior nationwide staff for a coaching camp outdoors Vila Nova de Gaia this week, the abuse Felix copped was reflective of the bitter remorse felt by followers of close by Porto that, after spending seven years of their academy, he left for Benfica.

As inexcusable as it’s to activate an adolescent for doing what he felt was finest for his profession, you’ll be able to perceive the anger. Maybe it might be higher directed at Porto, although, for not absolutely appreciating the prodigiousness of Felix’s capability after they had it.

His breakout season within the Benfica first staff did not simply seize a county’s creativeness however that of a complete continent, too. Take a look at it this fashion: By the point he’d made his fifth senior look, the board have been already rolling out a brand new contract, fearful that the €51.5 million buyout clause could be thought-about low-cost by Europe’s superclubs. Benfica greater than doubled it, bumping the determine as much as €120m for good measure. Ought to somebody write them a examine for that quantity this summer season, Felix would grow to be the most costly Portuguese participant of all time, overshadowing even Ronaldo.

Joao Felix is the most well liked prospect in Portuguese soccer since Cristiano Ronaldo. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Photos

He has been in sensational type for the reason that flip of the yr, ending the marketing campaign with 20 targets and 7 assists in all competitions. Benfica followers will mirror on how he rescued them within the first Lisbon derby with a late equaliser as an alternative, to not point out the opposite targets he scored in wins towards Sporting and Porto in O Classico. Nonetheless, the virtuoso show towards Eintracht Frankfurt in April stands out as among the finest particular person performances by any participant in Europe this season.

Felix turned the youngest participant in Europa League historical past to attain a hat trick, however the totality of his show, past the targets themselves, was breathtaking. It began with a reverse ball for Gedson Fernandes that successfully gained Benfica a penalty and bought Evan N’Dicka despatched off. He transformed the spot kick and ran the sport, additionally organising Ruben Dias’ aim with a near-post flick-on from a nook.

Santos’ choice to name him up for the senior Portugal squad a month earlier had been criticised in some quarters for maybe being slightly overeager. Why not depart Felix with the Beneath-20s, a staff busy making ready for the U20 World Cup in Poland, a event they only exited on the group stage? However watching Felix towards Frankfurt, it felt completely pure for him to land within the Nations League squad, notably because it finishes earlier than the Beneath-21 Euros, a more difficult competitors for him than the one which’s occurring for the time being.

Finally, Felix deserves the possibility to study among the many finest.

An image of him and Ronaldo coaching collectively appeared on Twitter just a few days in the past, whetting the urge for food for this week’s semifinal towards Switzerland. The accompanying caption was tongue-in-cheek: “The most effective participant on this planet and Cristiano,” which additional underlines the excitement surrounding the bright-eyed and bushy-haired 19-year-old.

Born in Viseu, the identical city as Paulo Sousa, Felix’s sport intelligence might maybe at some point be in contrast with the two-time Champions League winner. However his imaginative and prescient and chic working fashion has as an alternative drawn parallels with Manuel Rui Costa. The 11 huge probabilities he created within the Primeira Liga this season level to a way of invention that is arduous to search out in a participant who additionally scores so many targets. He is a “nine-and-a-half” on the pitch, that clever mix between No. 10 and centre-forward.

Whereas Ronaldo just isn’t but able to go on the baton, we’ve in some respects come full circle. As was the case in 2004 when the previous Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo mentored the younger Ronaldo throughout a significant event in Portugal, now Ronaldo should carry out the identical position with Felix.

“When Ronaldo began with the nationwide staff, the primary one to assist him was Figo,” Luiz Felipe Scolari recalled. “He was the primary participant to problem Ronaldo to dribble and shoot, to attain targets, to play his personal sport, to maintain working on a regular basis and grow to be a greater footballer. Figo took a place, saying ‘My son, attempt once more, hold attempting. In case you see the scenario is tough, I offers you a hand, and when you make a mistake I’ve all the pieces prepared, so relax. However it’s a must to attempt.'”

Now it is Felix’s flip.