David Tavares

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Oliveira and the second or paternal family name is Tavares.

David José Gomes Oliveira Tavares (born 18 March 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Born in Portugal, he plays for the Cape Verde national team.

David Tavares

Tavares being interviewed by Benfica TV in 2019
Personal information
Full name	David José Gomes Oliveira Tavares[1]
Date of birth	(1999-03-18) 18 March 1999 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth	Lisbon, Portugal[1]
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2009–2013	AC Tojal
2013–2014	Loures
2014–2016	Sporting CP
2016–2018	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Benfica B	36	(0)
2019–2021	Benfica	0	(0)
2020–2021	→ Moreirense (loan)	11	(0)
2021–2024	Famalicão	18	(0)
2023–2024	→ Torreense (loan)	5	(0)
2024–2025	Gloria Buzău	27	(1)
International career‡
2016	Portugal U17	3	(0)
2017	Portugal U18	2	(0)
2018	Portugal U19	4	(0)
2023–	Cape Verde	5	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 April 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 September 2024

Club career

Benfica

Born in Lisbon of Cape Verdean descent, Tavares finished his youth career with S.L. Benfica after arriving from neighbours Sporting CP at the age of 17.^[2][3] He made his senior debut with the former's reserves in the LigaPro, his first match being on 16 March 2019 when he came on an 89th-minute substitute in a 2–1 home win against F.C. Penafiel.^[4]

Tavares made the first of two competitive appearances with the first team on 17 September 2019, replacing Jota midway through the second half of an eventual 1–2 home loss to RB Leipzig in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.^[5][6] In September 2020, he joined Moreirense F.C. of the Primeira Liga in a season-long loan,^[7] playing his first game in the competition on 2 October in a 1–1 home draw with Boavista FC.^[8]

On 26 January 2021, Tavares was reinstated in the B side of his parent club, leaving Moreirense after allegedly falling out with manager Vasco Seabra.^[9]

Famalicão

On 29 June 2021, Tavares signed a five-year contract with F.C. Famalicão.^[10] He suffered a serious injury in December that sidelined him for several months, while in service of the under-23 side to where he had been sent due to disciplinary problems.^[11]

Tavares joined second-tier S.C.U. Torreense on 31 August 2023, loaned for one season.^[12]

Gloria Buzău

On 25 July 2024, Tavares agreed to a deal at FC Gloria Buzău in the Romanian Liga I.^[13]

International career

Tavares represented Portugal at youth level.^[14] In March 2023, he was called to the Cape Verde national team for a double 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eswatini,^[15] but only made his debut on 12 June in a 0–0 friendly draw with Morocco.^[16][17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 11 April 2025^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Benfica B	2018–19	LigaPro	8	0	—		—		—		8	0
	2019–20	LigaPro	11	0	—		—		—		11	0
	2020–21	Liga Portugal 2	17	0	—		—		—		17	0
	Total		36	0	—		—		—		36	0
Benfica	2019–20	Primeira Liga	0	0	0	0	1	0	1[a]	0	2	0
Moreirense (loan)	2020–21	Primeira Liga	11	0	3	0	0	0	—		14	0
Famalicão	2021–22	Primeira Liga	13	0	1	0	4	0	—		18	0
	2022–23	Primeira Liga	5	0	1	0	0	0	—		6	0
	Total		18	0	2	0	4	0	—		24	0
Torreense (loan)	2023–24	Liga Portugal 2	5	0	2	0	0	0	—		7	0
Gloria Buzău	2024–25	Liga I	27	1	1	0	—		—		28	1
Career total			97	1	8	0	5	0	1	0	111	1

1. Appearance in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 10 September 2024^[19]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Cape Verde
	2023	3	0
	2024	2	0
Total		5	0

Honours

Benfica

• UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2016–17^[20]