Hélio Varela
Cabo Verde
FWD
Age
24
Appearances
0
Goals
0
About Hélio Varela
Hélio Varela is among the forwards in Pedro Leitão Brito's confirmed 26 for the 2026 World Cup, a left winger who arrives at the finals aged 24. He plays his club football for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, where he has 3 goals in 23 league appearances this season.
Varela first made his name with 6 Primeira Liga goals for Portimonense in 2023-24, a breakout season that earned him a move to Gent in Belgium and then on to Maccabi Tel Aviv. His international career to date runs to 11 senior caps for Cabo Verde. They begin the group stage in Group H, alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, having qualified by winning CAF Group D in October 2025 to reach the nation's first-ever World Cup.
Varela first made his name with 6 Primeira Liga goals for Portimonense in 2023-24, a breakout season that earned him a move to Gent in Belgium and then on to Maccabi Tel Aviv. His international career to date runs to 11 senior caps for Cabo Verde. They begin the group stage in Group H, alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, having qualified by winning CAF Group D in October 2025 to reach the nation's first-ever World Cup.
World Cup 2026 Stats
Appearances
0
Minutes played
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
0
Shots on Target
0
Playing Style
A right-footed left winger, Varela is a direct dribbler who likes to take defenders on one-against-one and carries a threat on the counter-attack. He can also play through the middle or on the right, and looks to get crosses into the box from wide areas. He stands 1.76 m and is right-footed, and goes into the group stage in Pedro Leitão Brito's squad at 24 after his season with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
World Cup History
The 2026 World Cup is set to be Hélio Varela's first at senior level, with no senior World Cup on his record. His international career to date runs to 11 senior caps for Cabo Verde. Pedro Leitão Brito has named him in the 26-man squad for the finals, where he is among the group-stage forward options. He stays among Cabo Verde's attacking choices on the final list, in line to make his World Cup bow.
National Team
Cabo Verde
Tier 5
£4m
📋 Teammates (24)
View teamGoalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Goal Rush Impact
Varela's threat for Cabo Verde comes off the left wing: a direct dribbler who takes defenders on and looks to cross, he has 3 goals in 23 league appearances for Maccabi Tel Aviv this season. His running at defenders gives the side a counter-attacking outlet from wide. On the Goal Rush card Cabo Verde are a Tier 5 side at £4m, one of the lower bands on the card.
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Varela at the 2026 World Cup
Varela is a confirmed forward in Pedro Leitão Brito's 26-man Cabo Verde squad for the 2026 World Cup. He is in the Cabo Verde side opening their Group H campaign in mid-June.
Picking Cabo Verde in Goal Rush
Cabo Verde carry a Tier 5 billing of £4m on the card. They open Group H against Spain on 15 June, with Varela among the forwards in the confirmed 26.
Hélio Varela World Cup 2026 FAQs
Cabo Verde are a Tier 5 side at £4m on the Goal Rush card, one of the lower bands among the outsiders. Hélio Varela is in Pedro Leitão Brito's confirmed 26 as a forward, so his role is the quick reference at that team price.
Varela is a forward for Cabo Verde, a left winger by trade. He plays his club football for Maccabi Tel Aviv and is part of Pedro Leitão Brito's squad for the 2026 World Cup, named in Cabo Verde's final 26.
No. He has no previous senior World Cup appearances. The 2026 World Cup would be his first, with his place confirmed in Pedro Leitão Brito's 26-man Cabo Verde squad after Cabo Verde won CAF Group D to reach the finals.
Varela plays his club football for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. He is named among Cabo Verde's forwards in Pedro Leitão Brito's final 26, and takes his place in the squad for the group stage.
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