Johnny Cardoso

Johnny Cardoso
Cardoso with the United States in 2026
Personal information
Full name João Lucas de Souza Cardoso
Date of birth (2001-09-20) September 20, 2001 (age 25)
Place of birth Denville Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)
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 20 (0)
International career‡
2019–2022 United States U23 4 (0)
2020– United States 23 (0)
Medal record
Men's soccer
Representing  United States
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up2025 Canada–United States
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner2024
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 20, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of March 28, 2026

João Lucas "Johnny" de Souza Cardoso (born September 20, 2001) 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. He had stints at Avaí and Criciúma before moving to the youth academy of Internacional.

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. 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.

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. 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. 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. On February 4, 2025, Cardoso extended his contract with Betis until 2030. 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. On February 24, 2026, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League knockout play-offs.

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. He received his first call up to the senior United States squad for matches against Wales and Panama in November 2020.

Cardoso was subsequently called up again to the United States under-23 team for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship, 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 USA were crowned champions in a final against Canada, with Johnny entering the game during the second half.

In May 2026, Cardoso underwent surgery for an ankle injury, ruling him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.

Personal life

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

Career statistics

Club

As of match played September 20, 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State league National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Internacional 2019 Série A 10000000—10
2020 Série A 130401030—210
2021 Série A 270412110—342
2022 Série A 2431001040—393
2023 Série A 22212040110—492
Total 87530181190—1447
Betis 2023–24 La Liga 171——20—191
2024–25 La Liga 283—30151—464
Total 454—30171—655
Atlético Madrid 2025–26 La Liga 150—4010110301
2026–27 La Liga 50—00000050
Total 200—4010110351
Career total 15293011514621024413
  1. ↑ Includes Campeonato Gaúcho
  2. ↑ Includes Copa do Brasil, Copa del Rey
  3. 1 2 3 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 March 28, 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202020
202110
202210
202350
202490
202540
202610
Total230

Honors

Real Betis

Atlético Madrid

United States

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "National team roster, 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. June 18, 2021. pp. 1–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 18, 2021. 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. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. 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. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  6. ↑ admin (December 27, 2023). "Jhonny, ex-Internacional, é anunciado pelo Real Betis com contrato até 2029". Gazeta Esportiva (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on April 25, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Atlético de Madrid busca acordo com o Betis por Johnny, ex-Internacional". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 6, 2025. Archived from the original on March 1, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  8. ↑ "USMNT midfielder Cardoso completes Real Betis transfer". Pro Soccer Wire. December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Johnny Cardoso, nuevo jugador del Betis hasta 2029". MARCA (in Spanish). December 27, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2026.[dead link]
  10. ↑ "Cardoso makes Real Betis debut with start against Barcelona". Pro Soccer Wire. January 21, 2024. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Tottenham face triple contract call amid £21m Johnny Cardoso summer transfer decision". Yahoo Sports. January 4, 2025. Archived from the original on April 20, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  12. ↑ McGrath, Mike (September 3, 2024). "Tottenham 'pre-order' US international Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis for £21m". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  13. ↑ "Johnny Cardoso extends his contract with Real Betis". realbetisbalompie. Archived from the original on August 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Welcome, Johnny Cardoso!". Atlético Madrid. July 16, 2025. Archived from the original on April 21, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ Tolmich, Ryan (February 24, 2026). "WATCH: USMNT's Johnny Cardoso scores stunner to help lead Atletico Madrid to Champions League win". Goal.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  16. ↑ "KREIS NAMES 25-PLAYER ROSTER FOR U-23 USMNT TRAINING CAMP IN MIAMI". US Soccer. October 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  17. ↑ "USMNT ROSTER ANNOUNCEMENT: BERHALTER CALLS 24 PLAYERS FOR NOVEMBER CAMP MATCHES VS WALES AND PANAMA". ussoccer.com. November 3, 2020. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Jason Kreis Names Roster for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Johnny". internacional.com.br. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  20. ↑ "USMNT's Johnny Cardoso to undergo ankle surgery, expected to miss World Cup". The New York Times. May 11, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Fiorentina approach USMNT midfielder Cardoso". Yahoo Sports. July 16, 2024. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  22. ↑ Johnny Cardoso at National-Football-Teams.com
  23. ↑ Athletic, The (May 28, 2025). "Chelsea beat Betis to win the Conference League: Live updates and reaction". The Athletic. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Atletico Madrid 2-2 Real Sociedad (3-4 on pens): Sociedad triumph to win fourth Copa del Rey title". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on August 25, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  25. ↑ "U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account". ESPN. June 18, 2023. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Adams Reyna on target as United States complete three peat". CONCACAF. March 25, 2024. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Johnny Cardoso chosen LALIGA EA SPORTS U23 Player of the Month for February". La Liga. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.