More than one goal per game, the best average of his career, and Saudi Arabia's top scorer: is Joao Félix awakening?

8.57 is the average SofaScore rating Joao Félix has received since joining Cristiano Ronaldo 's Al Nassr. Not even Leo Messi (8.44 as the maximum average score) or Cristiano himself (7.94) have reached that figure in the last decade, and we're talking about the two best footballers in the world. Although in their cases, it's always for a full season, not a single period. So, is this yet another resurrection or another mirage for the ever-promising Portuguese player?

Naturally, few conclusions can be drawn from three games for his club and one for the national team. However, the Portuguese has scored six goals in five matches, four in three matches for Al Nassr and two for the national team in the match against Armenia, when he started and played for just over an hour. The second goal, moreover, was within reach of few, coming with a spur on the run after the Armenian goalkeeper cleared a shot from Gonçalo Ramos .

Joao Félix is ​​now alongside the compatriot who can help him most when it comes to getting his career back on track after unsuccessful spells at Atlético Madrid, FC Barcelona, ​​Milan, and Chelsea. Cristiano Ronaldo must try to rediscover the Golden Boy in Joao Félix. The one he showed at Benfica and caused an earthquake in 2019, which ended with him at the Metropolitano after a payment of more than 127 million euros. A place, by the way, where his plaque on the Walk of Legends is displayed today at every home game the Colchoneros play.

"It was very easy to adapt"

Many coaches have tried to redirect the Portuguese footballer's attitude, if not his quality. Diego Simeone was perhaps the coach who tried hardest during his three and a half seasons at Atlético, but he eventually gave up. Nor have his teammates at the four clubs where he has played since leaving Benfica as a budding star. But perhaps the ethic and influence of one of the greatest scorers and best players in history will serve as a contagion.

"It's a new stage in my career. It was very easy to adapt. Wherever I am, I try to give my best. I want to help the team and the club as much as possible: score goals, provide assists..." he declared, as the new star of Al Nassr and, for now, the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League, tied with former Real Madrid player Karim Benzema , with three goals. The other goal came in the Super Cup that his team won, precisely, against the French player's team.

This effectiveness is boosting his footballing stats. While at his peak with Benfica, the striker was scoring 0.47 goals per game, since joining Al Nassr he's averaged 1.2. To put this into perspective, he's scored one more goal in three matches in Saudi Arabia than in 21 with Milan, where he averaged a career-worst 0.14 goals per game.

Although his intention in mid-summer was to return to Benfica, the team coached by Bruno Lage , the manager who gave him the opportunity, the need to sell Chelsea and recoup the 52 million he paid Atlético de Madrid left him with almost no options in Europe. Then Al Nassr came along, having appointed Portuguese Simao Coutinho as its new sporting director and putting 30 million into the British team's coffers, plus another 20 million if certain parameters are met. Joao Félix has now earned more than 225 million euros in his career, 245 million if the bonuses at the Arab team are completed.

Gain momentum

What seemed like a desperate move for a footballer of just 25 years old, with a lot of football still under his belt, may turn out to be a step back to regain momentum, as the saying goes. All that's missing is for Joao Félix to be happy this time at a club whose coach is also Portuguese, Jorge Jesús , and the person with the greatest influence over the club, as his contract indicates, is Ronaldo himself. In fact, they say it was a call from CR7 that convinced Menino to sign for Al Nassr.

Before his departure for Arab football, Saúl , a former teammate at Atlético Madrid, described the Portuguese player as a player who "has all the qualities to be incredible," but that "no matter how good you are, if you don't work hard, you're worthless." Has the Portuguese footballer finally put on his work clothes, or is this start due to chance or his one-time genius?