Football is full of surprises, and few players show that better than Renato Sanches.
At just 18, the Portuguese midfielder was a superstar in the making. He helped Portugal win Euro 2016, scored a stunning goal in the final and quickly moved to Bayern Munich for about €35 million.
Many thought he would rule the midfield for years. But football is not always a straight road. Injuries, loans and tough seasons slowed him down. Some even said his best days were already behind him.
Ups and Downs
Renato grew up in Lisbon and joined Benfica’s academy when he was only nine. In 2016, after a great season with Benfica, he shone at Euro 2016 and became a national hero.
Bayern Munich signed him right after the tournament. But life in Germany was hard new language, strong competition and injuries. He later had loan spells at Swansea City, Roma and back at Benfica.
He found some form with Lille, helping them win the French league in 2021, but injuries kept coming. A move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 looked like a big chance, yet he played only a few games. By August 2025, his value had dropped to about €3 million and PSG sent him on loan to Panathinaikos in Greece.
Many thought it was the beginning of the end.
A Big Night in Europe
Then came 25 September 2025. In Panathinaikos’ first Europa League match against Young Boys in Bern, Sanches reminded everyone why he was once a wonderkid.
He ran the midfield with energy, sharp passing and strong tackles. His link-up play with winger Anas Zaroury was excellent, and he set up the first goal in a 3–0 win.
Fans all over social media went crazy. A video of his perfect corner kick quickly went viral. One French fan tweeted, “It’s been a long time since I saw Renato Sanches play—he’s causing chaos again!”
Even memes about his past injuries turned into jokes of admiration. On X (formerly Twitter) the words “Renato Sanches comeback” started trending from Lisbon to Kampala.
