Nicholas Benavides
Hong Kong footballer (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicholas Benavides Medeiros (Chinese: 尼高拉斯; born 5 November 2001) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a left back or a left winger for China League One club Foshan Nanshi and the Hong Kong national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicholas Benavides Medeiros | ||
| Date of birth | 5 November 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Tung Chung, Hong Kong | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Foshan Nanshi | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2020 | Lee Man | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Sham Shui Po | 50 | (14) |
| 2024–2026 | Tai Po | 18 | (0) |
| 2026– | Foshan Nanshi | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Hong Kong | 10 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22 November 2025 | |||
Club career
Benavides started playing football at the age of six.[1] As a youth player, Benavides joined the youth academy of Lee Man, before getting released due to his "foreign player" status.[2] He started his senior career with First Division club Sham Shui Po, where he gained promotion to the Hong Kong Premier League in 2022.[2]
On 3 March 2024, Benavides scored his first career hat-trick against Rangers in a 3–1 win, which is Sham Shui Po's first win of the season.[3] He became a free agent following Sham Shui Po's voluntary relegation back to the First Division.[4]
In the summer of 2024, Benavides signed for Tai Po.[5] On 1 September 2024, he debuted for the club during a 5–1 home win over Kowloon City in the 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League.[6]
On 15 January 2026, Tai Po announced Benavides' departure from the club.[7]
On 2 March 2026, Benavides joined China League One club Foshan Nanshi.[8]
International career
Previously, Benavides was eligible to represent Bolivia and Chile internationally through his parents, but he relinquished his citizenship of both countries on 19 August 2023 in order to play for Hong Kong.[9]
In October 2024, Benavides was called up to the Hong Kong national football team for the first time.[10][11][12]
On 15 October 2024, Benavides made his international debut for Hong Kong in a 3–0 home friendly win against Cambodia.[13]
On 8 December 2024, Benavides scored his first international goal in a 3–0 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifier victory against Mongolia.[14]
Personal life
Career statistics
Club
- As of 23 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sham Shui Po | 2020–21 | Hong Kong First Division | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | |||
| 2021–22 | 9 | 4 | — | 6 | 3 | — | 15 | 7 | ||||
| 2022–23 | Hong Kong Premier League | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7[a] | 1 | — | 24 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8[a] | 0 | 2[b] | 1 | 33 | 8 | ||
| Total | 50 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 78 | 21 | ||
| Tai Po | 2024–25 | Hong Kong Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Career total | 58 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 87 | 21 | ||
- Appearances in the Sapling Cup
- Appearances in the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield
International
- As of 13 November 2025[17]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 2024 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 2 | |
International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 December 2024 | Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong |  Mongolia |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying |
| 2. | 17 December 2024 | Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong |  Guam |
2–0 | 5–0 | 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying |
- Scores and results list Hong Kong's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benavides goal.
Honours
- Tai Po