Joao Felix, Portugal's $137 million prince, will follow Cristiano Ronaldo and dominate La Liga.

In 2018, Joao Felix almost joined West Ham United from SL Benfica. He completed a $137.5 million agreement with UEFA Champions League challenger Atletico Madrid a year later, making him the fourth most expensive footballer ever.

Felix went from a youngster with little first-team experience to a young man with the world at his feet and its weight on his shoulders in 12 months.

Felix made his first team debut on the second day of the 2018–2019 season under then-manager Rui Vitoria.

Felix, 18, came on as a late replacement in a 2-0 win over Boavista and performed well enough to earn another call-up the following week against arch rival Sporting Lisbon.

Felix entered the Estádio Sport Lisboa as a 71st-minute substitute, but he became a Benfica hero by equalizing with four minutes left. He became the youngest Lisbon derby scorer with his spectacular header.

"I shivered," Felix told Benfica's official website after the match. To play. I owe them for the chance."

He added: "I want to keep doing things well and have more chances like these." Felix's statements proved a self-fulfilling prophecy as he became Benfica's standout player, scoring 20 goals and giving 11 assists as Benfica won the Primeira Liga for the 37th time under new manager Bruno Lage.

In March, he was called up to the Portugal national squad for the first time and made his debut in the UEFA Nations League semifinal triumph against Switzerland, which Portugal went on to win by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.

Felix is often likened to his country's biggest stars. The 19-year-old is called the "heir to Rui Costa" and compared to two-time Champions League winner Paolo Sousa.

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