Happy birthday to Joao Felix! Atletico Madrid star turns 21 today

Today we celebrate the 21st birthday of Atletico Madrid and Portugal star Joao Felix by taking a brief look back on his career story.

‘Pure talent’ was the word Atletico Madrid used to describe Felix upon signing him in the summer of 2019 in a mouth-watering €126m deal.

The transfer placed the Portuguese, who was 19 at the time, as the second-most expensive teenager ever. It came following a whirlwind year at Benfica, where he went from a nobody to one of the most in-demand youngsters.

Felix caught the eye of everybody in the 2018/19 season with some mesmerizing performances. He stood out in the Europa League especially, becoming the competition’s youngest hat-trick goalscorer against Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

There wasn’t a soul in European football who didn’t know who Joao Felix was by that point onwards.

‘The Golden Boy’ continued to impress with his pace, dribbling, and finishing abilities to help Benfica win the Primeira Liga title in Portugal. An impressive 20 goals in 43 appearances followed that season.

Felix later turned down interest from several high-profile suitors to sign up for Atletico in 2019. And while things got off to a slow start, he has hit his stride this season alongside Luis Suarez in Diego Simeone’s attack.

Everyone here on Ace Football wishes Joao a happy 21st birthday and all the best for the upcoming year.

Here are some of the best tributes on Twitter today.

1⃣3⃣3⃣ club games 🏟️
1⃣0⃣ Portugal caps 🇵🇹

5⃣1⃣ goals ⚽️
2⃣4⃣ assists 🅰️

x1 UEFA Nations League 🏆🇵🇹
2019 Golden Boy award 🥇🌍

Happy Birthday to @joaofelix70 🥳#JoaoFelix #AtleticoMadrid #Benfica #Portugal pic.twitter.com/bvdybJlJ1h

— LiveScore (@livescore) November 10, 2020

Happy Birthday João Félix! 🥳
Das portugiesische Top-Talent feiert heute seinen 21. Geburtstag. 🎂🎉
Wir senden herzliche Glückwünsche. 🙂#SkySport #HappyBirthday #JoaoFelix pic.twitter.com/JRrDcvvo3S

— Sky Sport (@SkySportDE) November 10, 2020

Happy Birthday to Joao Felix as he turns 21 🎂#oniletvng
pic.twitter.com/9fGD0xtog7

— Oniletvng (@Oniletvng) November 10, 2020

Hoje é aniversário do jovem craque português que está brilhando no Atlético de Madrid!

Parabéns, @joaofelix70, pelos seus 21 anos!#JoãoFélix #AtléticoDeMadrid #LaLiga #AupaAtleti pic.twitter.com/rPb0XXlXKZ

— BeSoccerPT (@BeSoccerPT) November 10, 2020