Nicholas Benavides Medeiros (; born 5 November 2001) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a left back or a left winger for China League One club Foshan Nanshi and the Hong Kong national team.
Club career Benavides started playing football at the age of six. As a youth player, Benavides joined the youth academy of Lee Man, before getting released due to his "foreign player" status. He started his senior career with First Division club Sham Shui Po, where he gained promotion to the Hong Kong Premier League in 2022.
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. He became a free agent following Sham Shui Po's voluntary relegation back to the First Division.
In the summer of 2024, Benavides signed for Tai Po. 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.
On 15 January 2026, Tai Po announced Benavides' departure from the club.港足｜尼高拉斯離大埔據悉北上投中甲佛山南獅 HK01 15 January 2026
On 2 March 2026, Benavides joined China League One club Foshan Nanshi.官方：中国香港边路攻击手尼高拉斯加盟中甲佛山南狮 Dongqiudi 2 March 2026
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.
In October 2024, Benavides was called up to the Hong Kong national football team for the first time.
On 15 October 2024, Benavides made his international debut for Hong Kong in a 3–0 home friendly win against Cambodia.
On 8 December 2024, Benavides scored his first international goal in a 3–0 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifier victory against Mongolia.
Personal life Benavides was born in Hong Kong to a Bolivian mother and a Chilean father. He can speak Cantonese and Spanish and is the younger brother of Hong Kong footballer Oscar Benavides.
Career statistics Club
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSham Shui Po2020–21Hong Kong First Division64———642021–2294—63—1572022–23Hong Kong Premier League161107Appearances in the Sapling Cup1—2422023–2419542802Appearances in the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield1338Total501452214217821Tai Po2024–25Hong Kong Premier League8000001090Career total581452214318721
International
National teamYearAppsGoalsHong Kong202442202560Total102
International goals No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1.8 December 2024Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong3–03–02025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying2.17 December 2024Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong2–05–02025 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
References
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