Background and career
Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva (born 10 August 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Portugal national team.
After spending most of his youth career at Benfica, Silva began his professional senior career with them, before moving to Monaco permanently in January 2015, winning the Ligue 1 title for the 2016–17 season. In the summer of 2017, Silva joined Manchester City. Across nine years with the club, he made over 450 appearances, winning 20 major honours, including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, four EFL Cups, and the Champions League in 2023, as part of City's continental treble that year. In 2017–18, he helped City becoming the only Premier League team to attain 100 points in a single league season. In 2018–19, Silva had a significant role in City becoming the first men's team in England to win a domestic treble, being named Manchester City's Player of the Year in 2019 and being part of the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. In 2020–21, he helped Manchester City reach their first UEFA Champions League final, and was an integral part of the side who sealed their first ever continental treble in 2022–23, their most successful season to date. In July 2026, he left Manchester City as a free agent and joined La Liga club Real Madrid.
Silva made his senior debut for Portugal in 2015 after previously being capped by the nations's youth teams at under-19 and under-21 levels. He was chosen in Portugal's squads for three FIFA World Cups (2018, 2022 and 2026), two UEFA European Championships (2020 and 2024), and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He also won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025, being named as the Player of the Tournament on home soil in the former.
Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva was born on 10 August 1994, in Lisbon, Portugal. Silva's football journey started in Lisbon, where his early passion for the game was nurtured.
A product of Benfica's youth system, Silva played for its ranks, and in 2013 they won the 2012–13 Portuguese Juniors Championship. He made his debut for Benfica B in a Segunda Liga match against Trofense on 10 August 2013 (Matchday 1).
How Bernardo Silva makes money
On 20 January 2015, Benfica announced that Silva's economic and sports rights had been sold to Monaco for €15.75 million; he signed a contract for Monaco that would expire on 30 June 2019.
