After coming throughBenfica's youth academy, Cancelo began playing for the club'sreserve team in 2012 and was promoted to the first team two years later. He was subsequently loaned toLa Liga clubValencia during the 2014–15 season, before the move was made permanent in 2015. Cancelo was on loan toSerie A teamInter Milan during the 2017–18 season, in which he was included inSerie A's Team of the Year. Cancelo's performances sparked the interest ofItalian rivalsJuventus, who signed him in 2018 for a reported fee of €40.4 million. During his stint with Juventus, Cancelo won the league and theSupercoppa Italiana in his first and only season. In 2019, Cancelo was signed by EnglishPremier League clubManchester City. He went on to win threePremier League titles and theEFL Cup with the club. In the2020–21 season, he played a significant role in Manchester City reaching their firstUEFA Champions League final. Over the following seasons, Cancelo was loaned toBayern Munich, winning aBundesliga title, andBarcelona, before signing for Saudi club Al-Hilal in 2024. He would then return to Barcelona on loan in January 2026.
Cancelo made his senior debut for Portugal in 2016 after previously beingcapped by the nations's all youth team levels, winning 75 caps and scoring three goals overall. He was also part ofPortugal's under-21 team that reached the2015 UEFA European Championship final. He was chosen in Portugal's squad for the2019 UEFA Nations League Finals on home soil, winning the inaugural edition of the competition with his nation.
On 28 July 2012, Cancelo made his debut with Benfica's first team in afriendly againstGil Vicente where he played the full 90 minutes as a right back.[7] Despite being registered withthe reserve team, he was touted as a possible replacement toMaxi Pereira in the seniors;[8] until 2013 he also representedthe juniors, and on 18 May of that year he scored the two decisive goals in a 2–1 win overRio Ave to win the national championship.[9]
On 20 August 2014, Cancelo joinedValencia on a one-yearloan with the option to purchase for €15 million.[12] Although his economic rights were owned byPeter Lim, a loan was arranged to take him to Valencia due to Lim's purchase of the latter club.[13] HisLa Liga debut occurred on 25 September, playing the entirety of a 3–0 home win overCórdoba;[14] He initially started as a substitute and appeared in the round of 16 round of theCopa del Rey in the first leg againstRayo Vallecano. He would also occasionally move to theright wing and later his good performances, specially againstLevante on 12 April 2015, in which he was awarded the man of the match.[15][16] Throughoutthe season, he was used a second-choice right back behindAntonio Barragán, finishing the season with 13 appearances, across all competitions. Cancelo's performances helped Valencia reach the2015–16 UEFA Champions League, leading him, on 25 May, to agree to a permanent contract with the club until 30 June 2021, for a transfer fee of €15 million.[17][18][19][20]
In thefollowing season, Cancelo became a starter earning his debut in theChampions League on 16 September, where he scored his first goal forLos Che in a2–3 home loss toZenit Saint Petersburg. In doing so, he became the fifth youngest scorer in Valencia's history in the Champions League (aged 21 years and 107 days).[21] On 2 December, Cancelo scored his first goalCopa del Rey in a 3–1 victory overBarakaldo. Valencia was eliminated from the tournament after losing 8–1 on aggregate toBarcelona.[22][23][24] He also netted for the first time in the league the following 20 April to conclude a 4–0 win overEibar at theMestalla Stadium.[25]
In the2016–17 season, Cancelo's performances slightly declined, with Cancelo making an error leading him to conceding a penalty in Valencia's first league match in a 2–4 loss againstLas Palmas. Despite his errors, Cancelo's performances improved, leading him to be used more often with new coachCesare Prandelli, changing his position to the right-wing.[26] Cancelo was fixed in the eleven throughout the season, playing almost the same number of games between the right back and the right wing. On 2 April he scored his first league goal in a 3–0 victory againstDeportivo La Coruña. Afterwards, Cancelo made a "shush" gesture towards Valencia's fans, who criticized him for his defensive errors, but he immediately apologized for the gesture.[27]
On 22 August 2017, Cancelo joinedInter Milan on a one-year loan until 30 June 2018 with the option of making the move permanent.[28] The deal was part of a loan exchange, withGeoffrey Kondogbia moving in the other direction.[29] He made hisSerie A debut four days later, replacingAntonio Candreva in the 83rd minute of a 3–1 win away toRoma.[30]
Cancelo suffered a knee ligament injury in late August 2017 while on international duty, going on to be sidelined for one-and-a-half months.[31] He returned to action during the 3–2 home victory overAC Milan in theDerby della Madonnina, featuring 20 minutes.[32] After a few weeks of adaptation in theSerie A, Cancelo made his debut as a starter at theCoppa Italia in a home victory againstPordenone. On 17 April 2018, he scored his first league goal with a free kick in a 4–0 home victory overCagliari.[33]
During his phase of adaptation in Serie A, in which was added some tactical misunderstanding, his performances began progressively improving, leading him to be included inSerie A's Team of the Year.[34][35][36] Despite his good performances during the season, the club opted to not buy Cancelo.[37]
On 27 June 2018, Cancelo was signed byJuventus on a five-year contract for €40.4 million,[38] making his domestic league debut on 18 August in a 3–2 away win againstChievo Verona.[39] He won his first trophy with the club in January 2019, featuring the entire1–0 victory over Milan for theSupercoppa Italiana.[40][41][42] He scored his first league goal the same month, as his team came from behind to defeatLazio 2–1 at theStadio Olimpico in Rome; he also helped win the decisive match-winningpenalty later during the same game, which was subsequently converted by compatriotCristiano Ronaldo.[43][44] On 6 October, Cancelo provided an assist forRodrigo Bentancur in a 2–0 away win overUdinese.[45] On 7 December, Cancelo provided an assist forMario Mandžukić in a 1–0 home win against his former clubInter Milan in theDerby d'Italia.[46]
On 10 April 2019 Cancelo provided an assist for his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in a 1–1 away draw in the first leg of Juventus'Champions League quarter-final againstAjax, on 10 April.[47] In the second leg in Turin on 16 April, Juventus eventually lost the match 2–1, and were eliminated from the competition.[48] Four days later, Cancelo played in theScudetto-clinching match againstrivalsFiorentina, as Juventus won their eighth successive league title after a 2–1 home triumph.[49]
On 7 August 2019, Cancelo signed forPremier League clubManchester City on a six-year contract worth £27.4 million plusDanilo being sent to Juventus in part-exchange, equalling to £60 million, making him themost expensive right back ever.[50][51] On 25 August, he made his Premier League debut againstBournemouth appearing as a late substitute forKyle Walker in a 3–1 victory. On 18 December, he scored his first goal for City in a 3–1 away win overOxford United in thequarter-finals of theEFL Cup.[52]
Initially, Cancelo struggled during his first season in the club, looking out of position in the matches he played and failing to seal a starting spot in the team due to competing againstKyle Walker for a right-back spot.[53]
On 17 October 2020, Cancelo made his first league start for the new season after an injury in a 1–0 home win overArsenal. On 3 November, he scored his first Champions League goal for City in a 3–0 home win overOlympiacos in thegroup stage,[54] and on 26 January 2021, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 5–0 away win overWest Bromwich Albion.[55] On 24 February, he was named man of the match, after providing an assist toBernardo Silva in Manchester City's 2–0 away win overBorussia Mönchengladbach in the first leg of theround of 16 tie.[56]
During the season, Cancelo's ability to come inside from full back to maintain control of the ball in central midfield position, while ensuring his team was in a more stable defensive shape when possession was lost, was praised as being one of the key factors in Manchester City regaining the Premier League title that season, while also being named in thePFA Premier League Team of the Year.[57][58]
On 17 October 2021, Cancelo scored his first goal of the season for City in a 6–3 homeChampions League group stage win againstRB Leipzig.[59] On 3 November, Cancelo provided ahat-trick of assists forPhil Foden,Riyad Mahrez andGabriel Jesus in a 4–1 Champions League group stage home victory againstClub Brugge, leading him to be named man of the match.[60] On 6 November, in theManchester derby, Cancelo created both goals in a 2–0 victory againstManchester United atOld Trafford, forcing anEric Bailly own goal and providing an assist forBernardo Silva, for his fifth assist of the season in two games.[61] On 19 December, on his 100th appearance for the club, he scored a long-range shot and provided an assist in a 4–0 win againstNewcastle United.[62]
On 31 January 2023, Cancelo was loaned toBayern Munich for the remainder of the season with an option to buy for €70 million (£61.6 million).[63][64] Afterwards, it was reported byThe Athletic that Cancelo had fallen out with his managerPep Guardiola over a lack of playing time. Following the2022 FIFA World Cup, Cancelo began losing his place in the starting eleven overNathan Aké andRico Lewis, and after again featuring on the bench for the third game in a row in aFA Cup match againstArsenal, their relationship reached the breaking point, which led to Cancelo's departure from the club on loan.[65]
Cancelo made his debut for Bayern in a 4–0DFB-Pokal win overMainz 05, registering an assist forEric Maxim Choupo-Moting's goal.[66] On 11 March, he scored his first goal the club in a 5–3 win overAugsburg in theBundesliga.[67] On 12 April, having been drawn against each other in the quarter-finals of theChampions League, Cancelo came on as an 80th-minute substitute against parent club Manchester City as Bayern were defeated 3–0 in the first leg at theEtihad Stadium. During the match, Cancelo was booed by sections of the City supporters, leading Guardiola to defend him against the criticism, reminding that he had been an important player for Manchester City in the previous seasons and that his "quality was undeniable".[68][69] The following week on 19 April, Bayern were knocked out 4–1 on aggregate following a 1–1 draw in the second leg, with Cancelo starting the game before being replaced in the 63rd minute.[70] On 27 May, Cancelo played the full 90 minutes of a 2–1 victory overFC Köln, to clinch the 11th consecutive league title for his club ahead of rivalsBorussia Dortmund on goal difference.[71] Cancelo became the third player, afterDaniel Amartey andDavid Beckham, to win two league titles in different countries in a single season.[72]
At the end of the season, Bayern opted to not activate Cancelo's buy-out clause, in order to prioritize funds for other signings, with his departure being confirmed by the club on 1 July.[73]
Following his loan move to Bayern, Cancelo rejoined Manchester City for pre-season, although he did not feature in any of City's opening three Premier League fixtures, theFA Community Shield or theUEFA Super Cup, as he sought to finalise a move away from the club.[74][75] On 3 August, Cancelo agreed personal terms to join La Liga club Barcelona, with the club's managerXavi, who wanted to sign him in January, identifying him as a priority target.[76] In the final moments of the summer transfer window, Bayern contacted Manchester City to potentially acquiring Cancelo on loan, due to Barcelona's financial difficulties involving La Liga's Financial Fair Play regulations, however, on 1 September, Barcelona confirmed the signing of Cancelo on a season-long loan, after La Liga accepted the financial guarantees offered by Barcelona's board, which in turn allowed him to be registered in La Liga.[77][78]
He made his debut two days later as a 59th-minute substitute in a 2–1 away win overOsasuna.[79][80] On 16 September, Cancelo scored his first goal for the club, netting a strike from inside the box in his first start, as Barcelona's home league game againstReal Betis ended in a dominant 5–0 win, which earned him theLa Liga Goal of the Month award,[81] followed by an assist and a last-minute winner, helping Barcelona overturn a two-goal deficit in a 3–2 home victory againstCelta Vigo on 23 September.[82] On 28 November, he scored and assisted in a 2–1 comeback at home against his first club'srivalsPorto in the Champions League group stage, winning man of the match and securing the club's spot in theround of sixteen for the first time since2020–21 season.[83][84]
On 13 January 2026, Barcelona announced that they had resigned Cancelo on loan for the rest of theseason,[88] being handed the number 2 shirt.[89] He made his second debut on the club on 19 January 2026, coming off the bench during an away game against Real Sociedad which Barcelona eventually lost 2-1.[90]
Cancelo was initially included in Portugal's squad forUEFA Euro 2020 in June 2021; however, he tested positive forCOVID-19 two days prior to the team's opening match againstHungary, and was replaced in the squad byDiogo Dalot.[105]
In October 2022, he was named in Portugal's preliminary 55-mansquad for the2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,[106] being included in the final 26-man squad for the tournament.[107] Cancelo initially started Portugal's group stage matches, but amid a bad run of form, he lost his place to Diogo Dalot, who started the team's round of 16 game againstSwitzerland, with Portugal winning the match 6–1.[108][109][110] In the quarter-final againstMorocco, Cancelo again started on the bench, coming on forRaphaël Guerreiro in the 51st minute as Portugal lost 1–0.[111][112]
DuringUEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, Cancelo appeared nine times and scored three goals as Portugal won all ten matches inGroup J.[113] On 21 May 2024, Cancelo was named in Portugal's squad forUEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.[114] He started the team's opening match againstCzechia, where he was substituted forNélson Semedo in the 90th minute.[115] He then played the first 68 minutes againstTurkey,[116] assistingSamet Akaydin 28th-minute own goal. He was rested for the finalGroup F fixture againstGeorgia which Portugal lost 2–0.[117] He was restored to the starting line-up for Portugal'sround of 16 match againstSlovenia and played 117 minutes as Portugal won 3–0 in apenalty shootout after the match ended in a 0–0 draw.[118] Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals toFrance after losing 5–3 in another penalty shootout.[119]
Cancelo is known for his speed, energy and offensive capabilities, as well as his technique,dribbling skills, creativity andcrossing ability. He is capable of playing as a full back or winger on either flank, although he usually plays on the right.[120][121][122][123][124] During his time at Manchester City, he was considered one of the best full backs in Europe.[125][126][127][128][129][130] Despite his ability going forward, however, his tactical sense, positioning, and defensive skills have been cited as weaknesses in the media.[122][131][132]
When playing as a traditional full back he times his forward runs well. He tends to move forward when in possession rather than making lung-busting overlapping runs around the outside of a teammate, and he prefers to receive to feet rather than chase through balls. On the ball, he is equally capable of cutting infield from the right as he is going around the outside, and will regularly look to cross with his weaker left foot or drive inside the opposing left back and look to combine with those further forward. He is a very strong dribbler and that ability, combined with the fact he is confident on either foot, makes him extremely difficult to defend against. His speed also allow him to be fast enough that to recover at defensive transitions, and is always aware of the space he leaves behind him when his team attacks.[133]
In his second season in Manchester City, under managerPep Guardiola, Cancelo was developed into one of his hybrid players, who plays both at full back and in central midfield in the same game. During City's 4–3–3 formation, when out of possession, Cancelo moved into central midfield alongsideRodri, leaving five players to form their attacking line. With their back three spread wide across the pitch, Cancelo, Rodri and two attacking midfielders often form a box in midfield to overload central areas. If City play centrally, Cancelo is often their target – he has proved brilliant at receiving in central midfield and progressing play with daring and accurate forward passes. Cancelo also become one of City's most effective creative players, often adopting positions in either half-space before delivering a ball into the penalty area or slipping a through ball between defenders. When in a more withdrawn position, Cancelo is adept at moving into central midfield and playing a ball over the top for a runner in behind. With Cancelo instead adding an extra player in midfield, their attack is better set up to deal with defensive transitions.[133]
In January 2013, Cancelo's mother Filomena was killed in a car accident on theA2 motorway inSeixal. Cancelo and his brother were asleep and received only minor injuries.[134][135][136][137] Due to the emotional toll it took on him, Cancelo considered retiring from football.[138]
Cancelo and his girlfriend Daniela Machado had a daughter in 2019.[139] On 30 December 2021, their Manchester home was burgled by four men who stole some of his personal jewellery. Cancelo retaliated in self-defence and suffered facial injuries, but said that his family were safe.[140]
^"Comunicato ufficiale N. 59" [Official press release No. 59](PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 2 October 2018. p. 3. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 26 November 2018. Retrieved3 June 2019.
^"Comunicado oficial: Joao Cancelo" [Official announcement: Joao Cancelo] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 20 August 2014.Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved20 August 2014.
^Egea, Pablo (25 September 2014)."Líder no hay más que Nuno" [There's no leader like Nuno].Marca (in Spanish).Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved19 February 2016.
^"Prospeto de "Benfica SAD 2016–2019"" [Prospect of "Benfica PLSC 2016–2019"](PDF) (in Portuguese). Lisbon: S.L. Benfica. 15 April 2016. p. 66.Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved22 August 2017.
^Hurtado, José Luis (20 April 2016)."1, 2, 3, Alcácer otra vez" [1, 2, 3, Alcácer again].Marca (in Spanish).Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved25 November 2016.
^"João Cancelo vai ser pai" [João Cancelo will be a father].Record TV Europa (in Portuguese). 23 June 2019. Archived fromthe original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved12 February 2018.
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