Nani joined Orlando City SC on February 18th, 2019 after playing at various storied clubs across the world. The Portuguese winger began his career at Sporting CP, then played for Manchester United, Fenerbahce, Valencia, and Lazio. He also has 24 goals in 112 caps for the Portuguese National Team. Nani signed a three-year Designated Player deal with Orlando. He made his debut on March 3rd, in a 20 minute substitute cameo. He provided an assist in his limited minutes, then assisted another in the next match. On April 6th, Nani opened his account, then added a second against Colorado. His first goal of the brace came on a beautiful rising header, the second a match-winning penalty to make it 4-3.
After that match, Nani could not stop scoring. He scored in four consecutive matches. Nani beat Nick Rimando with a consolation free kick in the next match. On May 19th, he scored another brace against Cincinnati. The first was a rebound of his own missed penalty, the second a solid first-time finish. Nani was named a 2019 MLS All-Star, playing one half in the 3-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. He actually went on a bit of a cold streak in the summer, after scoring 8 goals in 8 matches earlier in the campaign. In a wild September match at Exploria Stadium, Nani re-found his form in a 3-3 draw with New England. He popped up in the box to equalize at one with a flick header. With a 3-2 deficit in the match, Nani took a touch past Diego Fagundez, cut back the other way, then curled an astonishing left footed curler into the upper 90, past Matt Turner. Nani finished the 2019 season with 12 goals and 10 assists, but Orlando City finished in the penultimate spot in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs.
In 2020, Nani starred in an MLS is Back Tournament match against Minnesota United. Nani poked home the fist goal of the Semi-Final match. Later in the first half, he cut it on the right and curled it into the bottom right corner to double the advantage. Orlando would go onto the final of the tournament, but lose 2-1 to the Portland Timbers. In the first match back in regular season play, Nani scored at the back post with a header through contact. Nani scored quite a few headers in his time with Orlando, he did it again weeks later against the Chicago Fire. On Decision Day, Nani scored an absolute peach of a free kick against Nashville SC. Nashville came back and won the match 3-2, meaning Orlando would enter the playoffs as the four seed. In the first round of the playoffs, Nani scored a penalty kick for Orlando. In the penalty shootout, Nani actually had his penalty saved. Though, Rodrigo Schlegel, an OCSC center back, made an incredible save after Pedro Gallese was sent off. Orlando advanced to play New England in the next round, but got upset 3-1 on home turf.
In 2021, Nani played his final season in Major League Soccer before adventuring elsewhere. It was another productive season for Nani, especially at the start, similar to 2019. He scored three goals in the first four matches of the season. His first goal of the season was a no look back-heel against Sporting Kansas City. After taking one game off from scoring, Nani scored in three straight games yet again. He missed he second half of May due to a calf injury, but returned to scoring straight away. He had amassed 6 goals in his first 8 matches. Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg tried to skill his way out of a situation, but it ultimately ended up in a Nani headed goal in his first match back from injury. On June 25th, Nani scored an absolute belter against Inter Miami to win late in the match. He cut in on his right from an extremely deep and wide position, but still tucked it into the top right corner regardless. In a late July matchup against Atlanta United, Nani scored a match winning diving header at the death. The final goal that Nani scored in MLS was yet another header, versus the New England Revolution. It was his first goal in eleven games. The Revs would come back and draw the match 2-2. Orlando City entered the playoffs as the sixth seed. They went out in the first round against Nashville, 3-1, Nani only playing 15 minutes. He was named a 2021 MLS All-Star, his second selection in two years (no All-Star game in 2020).
Following the 2021 MLS season, Nani joined Serie A's Venezia. Just six months later, he joined Melbourne Victory in Australia. One year later, Nani continued his world tour after signing for Turkish side Adana Demirspor, where he still plays to this day. Nani played just three seasons in MLS, but was extremely influential in his time in the States. Orlando fans and Nani had a lovely connection, especially as the Lions' captain led the team through the pandemic times. For his dominant seasons in purple, Nani takes the #74 spot.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2021 | ORL | 1,838 | 10 | 8 |
2020 | ORL | 1,424 | 6 | 5 |
2019 | ORL | 2,277 | 12 | 10 |
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