Nuno Santos (footballer, born 1999)

Nuno Miguel Valente Santos (born 2 March 1999) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Vitória de Guimarães.

Benfica
Born in Porto, Santos was a youth player at his city's two major teams, Boavista F.C. and FC Porto, before joining S.L. Benfica in 2012. He made his debut for the reserve team in LigaPro on 8 August 2017 as the season opened with a 2–1 away loss against U.D. Oliveirense, and scored his first goal the following 6 January at the end of a 3–1 defeat at FC Porto B. In 2018–19 he scored a career-best seven goals (adding five in seven matches in the UEFA Youth League), subsequently renewing his contract until 2024.

By then captain of Benfica B, Santos was loaned to Primeira Liga club Moreirense F.C. on 29 January 2020. He made his top-flight debut four days later by starting in a 5–1 away victory over Gil Vicente FC. His first goal at the level came on 11 July to win the game at B-SAD.

Santos continued to be loaned the following two seasons, to Boavista and F.C. Paços de Ferreira. On 19 November 2021, while in service of the latter side, he put his team ahead against his parent club in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal, but in a 4–1 loss.

Charlotte FC
On 5 August 2022, Santos signed a two-year deal with Charlotte FC. He scored his only Major League Soccer goal on 17 September in the 3–2 away defeat of Chicago Fire FC, and also spent time with the reserve team Crown Legacy FC.

Vitória Guimarães
Santos returned to Portugal in July 2023, joining top-flight Vitória S.C. on a four-year contract.

International career
Santos was part of Hélio Sousa's Portugal under-19 team that won the 2018 UEFA European Championship in Finland. He made three substitute appearances in the tournament, including one in extra time of the final.

On 5 September 2019, Santos earned his first cap for the under-21s, in a 4–0 home defeat of Gibraltar in the 2021 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.

Honours
Benfica
 * Campeonato Nacional de Juniores: 2017–18
 * UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2016–17

Portugal
 * UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2018