Johnny Cardoso

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is de Souza and the second or paternal family name is Cardoso.

Johnny Cardoso
Cardoso in 2023
Personal information
Full name João Lucas de Souza Cardoso[1]
Date of birth (2001-09-20) September 20, 2001
Place of birth Denville Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)[2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Atlético Madrid
Number 5
Youth career
2012–2013 Criciúma
2013–2014 Avaí
2014–2019 Internacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2024 Internacional 117 (6)
2024–2025 Betis 45 (4)
2025– Atlético Madrid 12 (0)
International career‡
2019–2022 United States U23 4 (0)
2020– United States 22 (0)
Medal record
Men's soccer
Representing  United States
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2025 Canada–United States
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner 2024
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of March 7, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of June 22, 2025

João Lucas de Souza Cardoso (born September 20, 2001), better known as Johnny Cardoso or Johnny, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the United States national team.

Early life

Cardoso was born in Denville Township, New Jersey to Brazilian parents and moved to Brazil when he was three months old.[3] He had stints at Avaí and Criciúma before moving to the youth academy of Internacional.[4]

Club career

Internacional

Cardoso made his professional debut with Internacional in a 3–1 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A win over Atlético Mineiro on September 15, 2019.[5] He scored his first goal for Internacional on March 4, 2021, in a 2-2 draw against Pelotas, in a match valid for the Campeonato Gaúcho (Rio Grande do Sul's state championship).

Cardoso suffered some injuries during the 2023 season, but finished as a starter in the team managed by Eduardo Coudet. That year, the midfielder played in 49 matches, scored two goals and provided two assists. He departed the club at the end of the year. For Internacional, he played 144 matches, scored seven goals, gave five assists and left without winning any titles.[6][7]

Real Betis

On December 27, 2023, Cardoso moved to La Liga club Real Betis on a reported five-year contract worth $6.3 million in exchange for six million euros for 80% of his rights.[8][9] On January 21, 2024, Cardoso made his debut for Betis, starting and playing 73 minutes in a league match against FC Barcelona which finished in a 2–4 loss.[10] As part of Giovani Lo Celso's transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Betis in 2024, Tottenham acquired a non-mandatory €25 million purchase option for Cardoso in summer 2025.[11][12] On February 4, 2025, Cardoso extended his contract with Betis until 2030.[13] This season he was a regular starter with 46 matches played, scoring four goals and providing one assist. He helped the team finish runner-up in that season's UEFA Conference League, losing the final 4-1 to Chelsea. Cardoso also helped Betis qualify for the UEFA Europa League after finishing in sixth place in that season's La Liga.

Atlético Madrid

On July 16, 2025, Cardoso moved to Atlético Madrid on a five-year contract worth a reported €30 million.[14]

International career

As he was born in the United States to Brazilian parents, he was initially eligible to represent both Brazil and the United States, Cardoso received his first call-up to the United States under-23 training camp in October 2019.[15] He received his first call up to the senior United States squad for matches against Wales and Panama in November 2020.[16]

Cardoso was subsequently called up again to the United States under-23 team for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship,[17] in which the United States failed to qualify for the Olympics.

In June 2023, the midfielder was called up again by the United States to compete in the final phase of that year's CONCACAF Nations League. On that occasion, the US were crowned champions in a final against Canada, with Johnny entering the game during the second half.[18]

Personal life

Cardoso holds an Italian passport, which allows him to be registered as an EU player for European leagues.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played March 18, 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State league[a] National cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Internacional 2019 Série A 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2020 Série A 13 0 4 0 1 0 3[c] 0 — 21 0
2021 Série A 27 0 4 1 2 1 1[c] 0 — 34 2
2022 Série A 24 3 10 0 1 0 4[d] 0 — 39 3
2023 Série A 22 2 12 0 4 0 11[c] 0 — 49 2
Total 87 5 30 1 8 1 19 0 — 144 7
Betis 2023–24 La Liga 17 1 — — 2[e] 0 — 19 1
2024–25 La Liga 28 3 — 3 0 15[f] 1 — 46 4
Total 45 4 — 3 0 17 1 — 65 5
Atlético Madrid 2025–26 La Liga 12 0 — 3 0 7[g] 1 1[h] 0 23 1
Career total 144 9 30 1 14 1 43 2 1 0 232 13
  1. ^ Includes Campeonato Gaúcho
  2. ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Copa del Rey
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  4. ^ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  7. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España

International

As of match played June 22, 2025[20]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2020 2 0
2021 1 0
2022 1 0
2023 5 0
2024 9 0
2025 4 0
Total 22 0

Honors

Real Betis

United States

Individual

References

  1. ^ "National team roster, 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. June 18, 2021. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Johnny Cardoso" (in Portuguese). Sport Club Internacional. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "Meet Johnny: The New Jersey boy on the brink of becoming Brazilian title winner with Internacional | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Norte-americano, artilheiro e capitão do sub-20: conheça Johnny". July 4, 2019. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  5. ^ "Atlético Mineiro vs. Internacional - 15 September 2019 - Soccerway". ca.soccerway.com.
  6. ^ admin (December 27, 2023). "Jhonny, ex-Internacional, é anunciado pelo Real Betis com contrato até 2029". Gazeta Esportiva (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  7. ^ "Atlético de Madrid busca acordo com o Betis por Johnny, ex-Internacional". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 6, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  8. ^ "USMNT midfielder Cardoso completes Real Betis transfer". Pro Soccer Wire. December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  9. ^ "Johnny Cardoso, nuevo jugador del Betis hasta 2029". MARCA (in Spanish). December 27, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  10. ^ "Cardoso makes Real Betis debut with start against Barcelona". Pro Soccer Wire. January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Tottenham face triple contract call amid £21m Johnny Cardoso summer transfer decision". Yahoo Sports. January 4, 2025.
  12. ^ McGrath, Mike (September 3, 2024). "Tottenham 'pre-order' US international Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis for £21m". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Johnny Cardoso extends his contract with Real Betis". realbetisbalompie.
  14. ^ "Welcome, Johnny Cardoso!". Atlético Madrid. July 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "KREIS NAMES 25-PLAYER ROSTER FOR U-23 USMNT TRAINING CAMP IN MIAMI". US Soccer. October 4, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  16. ^ "USMNT ROSTER ANNOUNCEMENT: BERHALTER CALLS 24 PLAYERS FOR NOVEMBER CAMP MATCHES VS WALES AND PANAMA". ussoccer.com. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  17. ^ "U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Jason Kreis Names Roster for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  18. ^ internacional.com.br https://internacional.com.br/noticias/johnny-e-convocado-pela-selecao-dos-estados-unidos. Retrieved February 11, 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ "Fiorentina approach USMNT midfielder Cardoso". Yahoo Sports. July 16, 2024.
  20. ^ Johnny Cardoso at National-Football-Teams.com
  21. ^ Athletic, The (May 28, 2025). "Chelsea beat Betis to win the Conference League: Live updates and reaction". The Athletic. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  22. ^ "U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account". ESPN. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  23. ^ "Adams Reyna on target as United States complete three peat". CONCACAF. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  24. ^ "Johnny Cardoso chosen LALIGA EA SPORTS U23 Player of the Month for February". La Liga. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
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