David Cardoso

David Rui de Kong Cardoso is a Macanese professional footballer who most recently plays as a defensive midfielder for Anadia.

Club career

Cardoso began his senior career in Portugal, progressing through several lower-division and reserve sides. After youth stints with Benfica Macau, Benfica, and Feirense, he went on to play with Mafra, where he made several appearances between 2013 and 2015.
On 28 January 2017, Cardoso made his professional debut with Braga B in a 2016–17 LigaPro match against Cova da Piedade.
On 31 January 2019, Bordeaux announced that they had signed Cardoso to a 2.5-year contract.
Following his time in France, he returned to Portugal with Casa Pia AC in 2021, and in 2022 played for Moncarapachense, featuring in the Campeonato de Portugal.
In 2023–2025 Cardoso represented Fabril Barreiro, making 60 appearances and scoring four goals in the Campeonato de Portugal.
In July 2025, he joined Anadia FC for the 2025–26 season on a contract running to June 2026.
Cardoso’s primary role throughout his career has been as a defensive midfielder, though he is also noted for versatility across central midfield positions.

International career

Cardoso played his first recorded match for Macau in the 2010 Hong Kong–Macau Interport at the age of 15, becoming one of the youngest-ever debutants for the team.
In September 2024, David Cardoso was excluded from Macau’s squad for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. This decision was due to a regulatory issue regarding player passport eligibility. The Asian Football Confederation and FIFA ruled that players with overseas passports, including Cardoso, couldn’t be included. The Macau Football Association confirmed this change. It affected several other players as well.