Nani
Nani is the professional football name of Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha, a Portuguese winger born in 1986.
Nani is the professional football name of Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha, a Portuguese winger born on 17 November 1986 in Amadora. He is best known for his spells with Sporting CP, Manchester United, and the Portugal national team, with whom he won UEFA Euro 2016. His later club career included stints at Valencia, Lazio, Orlando City, and FC Aktobe, with conflicting reports on his retirement and return to Aktobe in 2026.
Early life and identity
Nani was born on 17 November 1986 in Amadora, Portugal, and is of Cape Verdean descent. He is widely known by his nickname rather than his full name, Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha.
Club career
He came through Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2007, later featuring for clubs including Valencia, Lazio, Orlando City, and FC Aktobe in different reports. Sources disagree on his most recent club status and retirement timeline, with some indicating a return to FC Aktobe in 2026.
International career
Nani represented Portugal for many years and was part of the squad that won UEFA Euro 2016. Some sources also describe him as one of Portugal's most capped and most productive players.
Style of play
He is commonly described as a winger with pace, flair, and strong technical ability. This profile helped define his role at club and international level.
Key facts
- Nani is a Portuguese professional footballer whose full name is Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha.
- He plays as a winger and is known for pace, flair, and work ethic.
- He won UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal.
- He had a long spell at Manchester United and won major club honours there.
- Recent sources conflict on whether he was active, retired, or back at FC Aktobe in 2026.
No direct Canada-specific connection is evident in the provided sources, aside from general interest among Canadian football readers.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nani in football?
What position did Nani play?
Which country did Nani represent internationally?
Did Nani win a major international tournament?
Which clubs is Nani most associated with?
Is Nani retired?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nani_(footballer)Supports: Full name, birth date, nationality, position, and club information.
- Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/NaniSupports: Full name, birth date, nationality, and position.
- German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/NaniSupports: Cape Verdean descent and Euro 2016 victory.
- French Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/NaniSupports: Career status and return to FC Aktobe reported in 2026.
- Italian Wikipedia — https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nani_(calciatore)Supports: Club honours, Euro 2016, and retirement report.
- MLSsoccer.com — https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/nani/Supports: Position detail and Orlando City association.
- Transfermarkt — https://www.transfermarkt.com/nani/profil/spieler/33706Supports: Recent club listing, nationality, date of birth, and height.
- Sky Sports — https://www.skysports.com/naniSupports: Player details including birth date, position, and club listing.