Carlos Dos Santos Bio
Carlos Joaquim Antunes dos Santos, known professionally as CJ dos Santos, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club San Diego FC. Born on August 24, 2000, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he developed his game through respected youth academies in the United States before moving abroad to continue his education at one of Portugal’s most storied clubs. After professional stints with Benfica B and Inter Miami, he joined San Diego FC ahead of the 2025 MLS season.
A U.S. youth international, dos Santos has represented his country at major youth tournaments and was recognized with a senior-team training camp invitation in 2020. He stands 193 centimeters tall, a frame well suited to the demands of the modern goalkeeper position. His path from Philadelphia-area fields to Major League Soccer reflects a steady, academy-driven rise.
Early Life and Background
Carlos Joaquim Antunes dos Santos was born on August 24, 2000, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a household with a Cape Verdean father and a Portuguese mother, giving him a strong connection to two soccer-rich cultures. That background helped shape his early appreciation for the game and the discipline required to pursue it seriously.
Dos Santos began playing soccer at the age of two, a sign of how deeply the sport was embedded in his upbringing. He continued his development with local soccer academies including Foxchase SC, Philadelphia SC, and FC Delco, three well-known pipelines for young talent in the Philadelphia region. Those programs gave him a foundation in technical skills and tactical awareness before he stepped into a professional academy environment.
Path to Soccer
In 2013, dos Santos joined the Philadelphia Union academy, a move that marked his entry into a Major League Soccer development system. He trained there for three years, refining his craft as a goalkeeper and competing against top young players in the country. His performances in the Union’s youth ranks drew attention from European clubs.
In August 2016, dos Santos signed with the academy of Benfica in Portugal, one of the most respected development environments in world soccer. He spent several years training with the club’s youth setup, learning the demands of European football. On January 25, 2021, he made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 1–1 Liga Portugal 2 tie against F.C. Porto B, a meaningful first appearance in a senior match.
Carlos Dos Santos Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Dos Santos’s professional career officially began in 2019, the year he joined Benfica B’s senior setup after progressing through the club’s academy. He spent two seasons training and competing with the reserve side, sharpening his reflexes and adjusting to the speed of adult football in Portugal’s second division.
His professional debut against F.C. Porto B on January 25, 2021, gave him his first taste of senior competition. The 1–1 draw was a steady introduction, and he continued to feature for Benfica B as the 2021–2022 season progressed. That period laid the groundwork for his eventual return to Major League Soccer.
Inter Miami Era (2022–2024)
On February 11, 2022, dos Santos signed with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, returning to the league where he had developed as a youth player. The move brought him back to the United States and gave him a higher profile platform to showcase his abilities. He spent three seasons with the club, training alongside established veterans and competing for minutes in a competitive goalkeeping group.
During his time in Miami, dos Santos was listed among the team’s honored players in club records. He contributed to the squad’s depth and was part of the broader Inter Miami project that grew into one of the league’s most-watched teams. His development in Miami helped prepare him for a starting role at his next club.
San Diego FC Era (2024–Present)
On December 11, 2024, dos Santos signed with Major League Soccer expansion club San Diego FC, joining the league’s newest franchise ahead of its inaugural season. The move represented a fresh chapter and an opportunity to claim a starting role with a brand-new roster. He entered preseason as part of the club’s goalkeeping group.
The 2025 campaign gave dos Santos a chance to establish himself in a league that now featured San Diego FC as its 30th club. His familiarity with Major League Soccer, gained during his Inter Miami years, allowed him to adapt quickly to the demands of the new project. He is positioned as a key piece of San Diego’s long-term goalkeeping plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dos Santos is a tall, commanding goalkeeper at 193 centimeters, a stature that helps him dominate his penalty area on crosses and high balls. He developed his technique in the tactical environment of Benfica’s academy, where positioning and footwork are emphasized. His time at Inter Miami exposed him to a high-possession style that values goalkeepers comfortable with the ball at their feet. Combined with his U.S. youth international experience, those tools give him a balanced profile for the modern game.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of dos Santos’s signature moments came on January 25, 2021, when he made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 1–1 draw against F.C. Porto B. He also represented the United States at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, important stages for any young American player. In December 2020, he received a training camp call-up for the senior United States men’s national team, an early signal of the trust placed in his potential.
Carlos Dos Santos Career Wins
As a goalkeeper, dos Santos’s professional highlight reel centers on his competitive appearances rather than personal trophy counts. His senior debut with Benfica B and his subsequent moves to Inter Miami and San Diego FC mark the verified chapters of his professional journey. He has accumulated league appearances in both Liga Portugal 2 and Major League Soccer across his career.
Other Wins and Performances
Dos Santos has represented the United States at multiple youth levels, including appearances at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Those international showings remain some of the most visible performances of his early career. He has continued to add to his resume with each professional stop in Portugal and the United States.
Carlos Dos Santos Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carlos Joaquim Antunes dos Santos was born to a Cape Verdean father and a Portuguese mother, a heritage that connects him to two of soccer’s most passionate cultures. That dual background helped shape his early introduction to the game in the Philadelphia area. His upbringing in a multi-cultural household provided a strong foundation for a career built on movement between countries.
Personal Life
Dos Santos keeps his personal life largely private, with no verified public details about a spouse or children available. He is known to have grown up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he began playing soccer at the age of two. His career has taken him from the United States to Portugal and back again, a path that reflects both his heritage and his professional ambitions.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 Major League Soccer season represents dos Santos’s first with expansion side San Diego FC, a club building its identity from the ground up. Joining on December 11, 2024, he entered the year as part of the team’s foundational goalkeeping corps. His prior experience with Inter Miami gave him familiarity with the league’s travel demands and tactical variety.
Throughout the season, dos Santos has been integrated into a squad featuring both veterans and fellow young professionals. San Diego’s inaugural campaign has required patience and adaptation, with the goalkeeping group sharing minutes as the club evaluates its long-term options. His Benfica B background, where he debuted in 2021, has helped him handle the pressure of a new-look roster.
Looking ahead, dos Santos is positioned to compete for an expanded role as San Diego FC continues to build. His U.S. youth international experience and his December 2020 senior-team training camp call-up underline the trust placed in his upside. The 2025 season serves as a critical launching point for a goalkeeper still early in his professional career.