João Félix recorded an impressive tally of 29 goals and 19 assists in 56 matches this season. Despite his outstanding performance, which earned him the Saudi Pro League Player of the Season award and helped Al-Nassr secure the league title, he found himself sidelined during Portugal's first match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With 48 goal contributions in a single campaign, being benched was not the recognition he deserved.
Al-Nassr officially signed Félix on July 29, 2025, for a starting fee of £26.2 million. In retrospect, that sum seems exceedingly reasonable given his pivotal role in the team’s championship victory and his individual accolades.
Félix was included in Portugal's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, released on May 19, 2026. However, the real challenge was not making the squad, but rather getting playing time. His remarkable performance in the season prior made it difficult to understand the decision to not utilize one of Portugal's most effective attackers
Félix's career trajectory has been noteworthy, starting from his breakout at Benfica to high-profile transfers and loan spells at clubs such as Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, and AC Milan. At £26.2 million, Al-Nassr secured a league champion and a Player of the Season while Portugal opted not to leverage the talents of a player with nearly 50 goal contributions during the critical match.
Such contrasting strategies raise questions about the decision-making processes at national team levels and the recognition of players' contributions in pivotal competitions.