.jpg) Dos Santos with the United States U20 in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Joaquim Antunes dos Santos[1][2] | ||
| Date of birth | (2000-08-24) 24 August 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | San Diego FC | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2006 | Fox Chase SC | ||
| 2006–2011 | Philadelphia SC | ||
| 2011–2013 | FC Delco | ||
| 2013–2016 | Philadelphia Union | ||
| 2016–2019 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | Benfica B | 2 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Inter Miami II | 28 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Inter Miami | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | San Diego FC | 30 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016–2017 | United States U17 | 7 | (0) |
| 2019 | United States U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2026– | Cape Verde | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 October 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 May 2026 | |||
Carlos Joaquim Antunes dos Santos[2] (Portuguese: [ˈkaɾ.luʒ ʒu.ɐ.ˈkĩ ɐ̃.ˈtu.nɨʒ duʃ ˈsɐ̃.tuʃ]; born 24 August 2000), known as CJ dos Santos, is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club San Diego FC. Born in the United States to a Portuguese mother and a Cape Verdean father,[2] he plays for the Cape Verde national team.
Club career
Dos Santos began playing football at the age of two, and continued his development with local football academies Fox Chase SC, Philadelphia SC, and FC Delco before moving to Philadelphia Union in 2013. In August 2016, he signed with the academy of Benfica in Portugal.[4] Dos Santos made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 1–1 Liga Portugal 2 draw with F.C. Porto B on 25 January 2021.[5]
On 11 February 2022, dos Santos signed with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.[6]
On 11 December 2024, dos Santos signed with Major League Soccer club San Diego FC.[7]
International career
Dos Santos was born in Philadelphia to a Cape Verdean father and a Portuguese mother.[2] He was a youth international for the United States, having represented the United States U17s at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[4] He was called up for a training camp for the senior United States men's national soccer team in December 2020.[8]
He was one of the players who were selected with the Cape Verde national team for the friendly matches against Chile and Finland on 27 and 30 March 2026, respectively.[9]
On 13 May 2026, dos Santos' request to switch allegiance to Cape Verde was approved by FIFA.[10] On 18 May, he was called up by Cape Verde's head coach Bubista for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[11][12]
Career statistics
- As of match played 1 November 2025[13]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2020–21 | Liga Portugal 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | Liga Portugal 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Inter Miami II | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 15 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 4 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 28 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||||
| Inter Miami | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| San Diego FC | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 30 | 0 | — | — | 3[b] | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 69 | 0 | ||
- Appearance in Leagues Cup
- Two appearances in MLS Cup playoffs, one appearance in Leagues Cup
Honours
Inter Miami
References
- "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
- "'CJ' dos Santos, a promessa do Benfica que ambiciona chegar à 'Champions'". cmjornal.pt (in Portuguese). 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019.
- "CJ dos Santos". Inter Miami CF. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- "CJ Dos Santos | U.S. Soccer Official Website". ussoccer.com.
- "Porto II vs. Benfica II - 25 January 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- "Inter Miami CF sign goalkeeper CJ dos Santos from Benfica". Major League Soccer. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- "San Diego FC acquire CJ dos Santos from Inter Miami". Major League Soccer. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- "December Camp Spotlight: CJ Dos Santos". OneGoal USMNT Soccer News, Analysis, and Email Newsletter.
- "O Selecionador Nacional, Pedro Brito 'Bubista', apresentou a lista dos convocados para o FIFA Series, a realizar-se na Nova Zelândia" (in Portuguese). Cape Verdean Football Federation. 19 March 2026.
- "FIFA Change of Association Platform". Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/articles/cabo-verde-squad-announcement-world-cup-bubista
- https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/fifa-world-cup-2026/articles/bubista-s-official-cabo-verde-squad-for-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-2026-05-19
- CJ dos Santos at Soccerway
- Sigal, Jonathan (2 October 2024). "Inter Miami win 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- Sigal, Jonathan (20 August 2023). "Lionel Messi & Inter Miami are Leagues Cup champions!". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
External links
- CJ dos Santos at Major League Soccer
- CJ dos Santos at U.S. Soccer
- CJ dos Santos at ForaDeJogo (archived)