John Felix already enchants in the (new) selection: “Jorge Jesus is saving him”

“Jorge Jesus, who replaced Roberto Martínez as a selector of Portugal after the World Cup, is now also saving João Félix at the level of selection,” he says. 

The U.S. portal even begins by recalling the match between Norway and Portugal (1-2), classifying it as “not very memorable”, but quickly points to Felix’s impact on Oslo. 

“ For the second time in four days, João Félix scored for Portugal. For the second time in four days, he played in his favorite position. And for the second time in four days, he served 90 minutes. It was not a gala show – it was better in the 1–0 victory over Wales on Thursday – but it was significant”, starts by evaluating The Athletic, which also remembers the irregular career of the advanced graduate in Benfica. 

“João Félix has been the most frustrating gift that football has offered in the last decade. It moves like it's not conditioned by gravity. Your first touch makes you blush. You might find an interesting angle even in a square. But he also spent too much time in his career in the bank or lost in a distant wing, with a somewhat disoriented look, perhaps even a little haunted ", points. 

The U.S. newspaper thus recovers the path of João Félix, from Light to Saudi Arabia, passing by the coaches with whom the advanced worked, and few managed to extract from him the income that Jorge Jesus achieved last season at Al Nassr.

“John Felix went to Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia in 2025. For some, it seemed an admission of defeat: a luxury player, unable to assert himself in Europe, to choose the easiest option. There'll probably be some truth to that. In any case, the change provided him with what he lacked until then: someone who believed in him. Jorge Jesus, the experienced Portuguese coach, built a team around João Félix. The advanced scored 26 goals and made 18 assists, helping Al Nassr to win the Saudi title of 2025/26”, can be read.

The Athletic stresses that now João Félix feels “caught” in the Portuguese team and that this helps explain the rise in income, highlighting Jesus’ confidence in his abilities. 

“It was not, in fact, his most creative display, but it ran that got tired. And when Jesus launched fresh players at various times in the final line, he kept it in the field, in a demonstration of trust given to the performances ", writes. 

Moreover, as mentioned in the same article, “João Félix had never played 90 minutes in consecutive games by Portugal” until Jorge Jesus arrived at Portugal’s technical command. 

“The hope, from now on, is that this becomes the rule and not the exception. John Felix is not the most consistent player. There will be ups and downs. One thing, however, is undeniable: when you are in the field, in your favorite areas, things tend to happen out of the ordinary. Romantics have known it for years. Finally, in Jesus, found a coach who subscribes to his manifesto of loving disappointment”, concludes The Athletic.