Nicholas Benavides

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Benavides and the second or maternal family name is Medeiros.

Nicholas Benavides Medeiros (Chinese: 尼高拉斯; born 5 November 2001) is a Hong Kong professional footballer of Chilean and Bolivian descent who currently plays as a left back or a left winger for Hong Kong Premier League club Tai Po and the Hong Kong national football team.

Nicholas Benavides

Personal information
Full name	Nicholas Benavides Medeiros
Date of birth	(2001-11-05) 5 November 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Tung Chung, Hong Kong
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Left back Left winger
Team information
Current team	Tai Po
Number	87
Youth career
0000–2020	Lee Man
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2024	Sham Shui Po	50	(14)
2024–	Tai Po	14	(0)
International career‡
2024–	Hong Kong	6	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 March 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 July 2025

Club career

Benavides started playing football at the age of six.^[1] As a youth player, Benavides joined the youth academy of Lee Man, before getting released due to his "foreign player" status.^[2] He started his senior career with First Division club Sham Shui Po, where he gained promotion to the Hong Kong Premier League in 2022.^[2]

On 3 March 2024, Benavides scored his first career hat-trick against Rangers in a 3–1 win, which is Sham Shui Po's first win of the season.^[3] He became a free agent following Sham Shui Po's voluntary relegation back to the First Division.^[4]

In the summer of 2024, Benavides signed for Tai Po.^[5] On 1 September 2024, he debuted for the club during a 5–1 home win over Kowloon City in the 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League.^[6]

International career

Previously, Benavides was eligible to represent Bolivia and Chile internationally through his parents, but he relinquished his citizenship of both countries on 19 August 2023 in order to play for Hong Kong.^[7]

In October 2024, Benavides was called up to the Hong Kong national football team for the first time.^[8][9][10]

On 15 October 2024, Benavides made his international debut for Hong Kong in a 3–0 home friendly win against Cambodia.^[11]

On 8 December 2024, Benavides scored his first international goal in a 3–0 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifier victory against Mongolia.^[12]

Personal life

Benavides was born in Hong Kong to a Bolivian mother and a Chilean father.^[13] He can speak Cantonese and Spanish and is the younger brother of Hong Kong footballer Oscar Benavides.^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 November 2024

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sham Shui Po	2020–21	Hong Kong First Division	6	4	—		—		—		6	4
	2021–22		9	4	—		6	3	—		15	7
	2022–23	Hong Kong Premier League	16	1	1	0	7[a]	1	—		24	2
	2023–24		19	5	4	2	8[a]	0	2[b]	1	33	8
	Total		50	14	5	2	21	4	2	1	78	21
Tai Po	2024–25	Hong Kong Premier League	8	0	0	0	0	0	1[b]	0	9	0
Career total			58	14	5	2	21	4	3	1	87	21

1. Appearances in the Sapling Cup
2. Appearances in the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield

International

As of 15 July 2025^[15]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Hong Kong	2024	4	2
	2025	2	0
Total		6	2

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	8 December 2024	Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong	Mongolia	3–0	3–0	2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying
2.	17 December 2024	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Guam	2–0	5–0	2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying

Scores and results list Hong Kong's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benavides goal.

Honours

Tai Po

• Hong Kong Premier League: 2024–25