As João Félix prepares for his next move — a transfer to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia — there’s an inescapable sense of melancholy. Once billed as one of football’s brightest stars, the Portuguese forward’s career is veering into obscurity far earlier than anyone anticipated. At just 25 years old, Félix is set to join the Saudi Pro League, leaving behind a turbulent trail of clubs, coaches, and unfulfilled expectations.

Back in 2019, Atlético Madrid made a seismic move by splashing £113 million to sign João Félix from Benfica, making him the third most expensive footballer in history at the time. Just 19 years old, the Lisbon-born talent had dazzled for Benfica, showing flair, creativity, and a natural eye for goal.

But fast forward six years and that price tag feels more like a burden than a badge of honour.

“The feeling back home is that Félix has officially given up on being a truly top-level international player,” remarked a Lisbon-based journalist, capturing the sentiment of a nation that once saw him as the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Félix’s journey began in Benfica’s academy. By the age of 16, he was already making waves with the B team. His senior debut came in August 2018, and he quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in Europe.

In just one season, Félix scored 20 goals in 43 matches, including a memorable hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League. He was the youngest ever to do so in that competition. Benfica lifted the Primeira Liga title that year, and Félix took home the Golden Boy award — Europe's most prestigious accolade for under-21 talent.

“Those six months at the Estádio da Luz were magical,” said one Portuguese journalist. “He was pure art — the best I’ve seen in a decade in Portugal.”

The big move to Atlético Madrid was meant to elevate Félix into the elite. Instead, it exposed a fundamental mismatch between player and manager. Diego Simeone, known for discipline and defensive structure, demanded qualities Félix was never known for.

“It drives coaches mad,” said a leading Spanish football pundit. “They see the potential, but he’ll never fulfil it. It’s mental. He’s not lazy, but he’s not listening either.”

Félix's time at Atlético was marked by inconsistency. In 131 games, he scored 35 goals and added 16 assists — decent, but nowhere near what his transfer fee demanded. Though he was part of the squad that won La Liga in 2020-21, he only started 14 league games and scored three goals after Christmas.

The following season saw slight individual improvement — Félix managed 10 goals before an injury curtailed his season — but relations with Simeone soured, and the writing was on the wall.

By 2023, Félix was desperate for a fresh start. A six-month loan to Chelsea seemed like a chance to rediscover his spark. But his debut ended with a red card, and although he netted four goals, it wasn’t enough to convince Mauricio Pochettino to keep him.

He returned to Madrid — briefly — before pushing for a move to his childhood dream club Barcelona. The switch was controversial, particularly with Atlético fans, but it provided a glimpse of the old Félix. He scored 10 goals, including twice against his parent club — the only player to do so in both league fixtures against Atlético Madrid since Lionel Messi.

Despite the revival, Barcelona chose not to sign him permanently, opting instead for Dani Olmo.

Surprisingly, Chelsea returned with a £45 million offer, signing Félix on a seven-year contract. The move raised eyebrows — especially since he had failed to impress during his earlier stint.

In truth, it appeared financially motivated. Chelsea were looking to sell Conor Gallagher, an academy graduate, to Atletico for profit. When that move stalled, they pivoted back to Félix.

He scored seven goals in all competitions, but most came in cup ties against modest opposition like Panathinaikos, FC Noah, and Morecambe. He featured mainly in Chelsea’s ‘cup team’ and managed just one Premier League goal.

Soon, he was shipped off again — this time to AC Milan on another short-term loan. His spell in Italy was forgettable, with just three goals in 21 appearances. A viral tunnel exchange with Kyle Walker, who told him “Pass the ball — nobody here is Messi,” became the most notable moment of his time in Serie A.

With Chelsea clearly uninterested and no major European suitors in sight, Félix has chosen a path many feared — a move to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

He’ll reunite with former Benfica boss Jorge Jesus and play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, but for many fans and pundits, this move feels like a full stop rather than a new chapter.

“We say in Spain — head of a rat instead of tail of a lion,” one pundit noted. “He doesn’t work hard enough, and he doesn’t want to evolve. That limits you in modern football.”

There were whispers of a romantic return to Benfica — a chance to go home, reignite his career, and remind the world of the player he once was. Félix even publicly stated: “Benfica is my home. I’d be very happy to return.”

But reality hit hard. Benfica manager Bruno Lage made it clear Félix would need to take a significant pay cut. Unsurprisingly, the move didn’t materialise.

“Earlier this month, he said he was inclined to return. It made so much sense,” said one Portugal-based reporter. “But now he’s off to Saudi — and nobody seems to care much anymore.”

It’s difficult to think of another player whose career trajectory has shifted so dramatically. At 19, Félix was touted as Portugal’s next icon, a player who could carry the legacy of Ronaldo. Six years on, he’s headed to a league far removed from Europe’s elite.

He's not the first prodigy to falter, and he won't be the last. But Félix's decline feels particularly sad because of just how extraordinary those first six months at Benfica truly were.

“That will be the best version of Félix we’ll ever see,” a local journalist concluded. “It’s what makes this all so frustrating.”

João Félix’s journey is a cautionary tale — a story of raw talent, mismatched systems, and unmet expectations. Whether it’s mental fragility, poor career decisions, or a refusal to adapt, the reasons may vary. But the outcome is clear: a career that once burned so brightly now flickers quietly in the shadows.