João Lucas de Souza Cardoso

João Lucas de Souza Cardoso, commonly known as Johnny Cardoso, is an American defensive midfielder. Born in Denville, New Jersey, in 2001, he moved to Brazil as an infant and developed through futsal before joining Internacional’s academy in 2014. Initially used as a striker or wide forward, Cardoso was later moved into a deeper midfield role because of his ball security and reading of play. He made his senior debut for Internacional in 2019 and established himself in the club’s midfield during the following seasons. In January 2024, Cardoso moved to Real Betis, beginning his European career and helping the Spanish club reach the UEFA Conference League final. He committed to the United States national team and helped win the CONCACAF Nations League in March 2024. Cardoso joined Atletico Madrid in July 2025, where his defensive coverage, aerial strength and controlled distribution support his role as a holding midfielder.