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The Benfica striker became the youngest player to score a hat trick in the Europa League last week, as leaders of the Portuguese league dismantled Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 in the first leg of their quarter-final in Lisbon.
Not bad for a player who only made his competitive debut in the first team last August.
On Thursday, the teenager will look to help Benfica go to the Europa League semifinals for the first time since 2014, while he will travel to Frankfurt for the second leg in the quarter-finals.
For those who have been working with Felix since a young age, however, his rapid progress is not a big surprise.
"He is a very talented, very technical player," said Joao Tralhao, Felix's coach in the Benfica youth squad, before becoming Thierry Henry's badistant during the French move to Monaco as manager. "The decision-making qualities of (Felix) are absolutely amazing.Exceptional.Elite level, it's safe," adds Tralhao.
Tralhao says that Felix has long been a notable player in training matches with Benfica's senior team, while he was still a player of the youth team, thus marking his potential obvious.
But talent is not always synonymous with progress and the fact that he is "very humble, likes to work, enjoys listening … (and) has a competitive mentality" helped his progress, adds Tralhao.
Different from Ronaldo
Tall but graceful, Felix is strong in the air and clever with the ball at his feet.
His exquisite balance, vision and languid racing style have earned comparisons to former Brazilian international Kaka, as well as to Benfica's pillars such as Rui Costa.
Meanwhile, eleven goals in 21 games have allowed Felix to be among the top scorers in the Portuguese league. An impressive return for such a young player, not to mention one who does not always play as an outstanding striker.
He appeared emotional after scoring his third goal against Frankfurt, making it even more endearing for Benfica fans who defeated the teenager after scoring against rival Sporting at one of his first matches.
And Felix made even more smile when he scored against Setubal on Sunday, hugging his younger brother who was positioned behind the goal and who was working as a ball boy.
For Nuno Gomes, a former Benfica international player and 79 selections for Portugal, such comparisons are not quite right.
"They are different," said Gomes of both players. Ronaldo is the best in the world, 34 years old. Felix is only 19 years old. "
Gomes became the general manager of the Benfica Youth Department shortly after Felix's signing by the youth ranks of his rival, Porto. He followed his evolution closely and offered him a first professional contract at age 16.
But Gomes said Benfica was quickly convinced by his potential as soon as he started working with the club coaches. "It was clear to everyone that we were facing a special young talent," he says.
"His relationship with the ball, his first contact, his intelligence" referred to him as a "completely different type of player".
"He's already a star"
The loss of Porto is certainly Benfica's win.
They not only have remarkable talent, potentially useful for the final stages of the Europa League, but are also an badet to Europe's richest clubs fighting for the right to purchase.
Benfica has always produced some of the most exciting young Portuguese players. He has also earned a reputation for recruiting and training talent outside of Portugal before selling it to clubs in Europe's biggest leagues, with a profit.
Ederson, David Luiz, Nemanja Matic, Victor Lindelof and Angel Di Maria recently sold a lot of money. Bernardo Silva, Renato Sanches and Joao Cancelo also climbed the ladder in Benfica.
This model suggests that Felix will also be sold in the future.
Both Gomes and Tralhao see Felix signing a day for one of Europe 's biggest clubs, for a hefty sum.
Gomes has played in Serie A for Fiorentina, as well as Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League and says it will be important for Felix to keep his feet on the ground in the months and years to come.
He adds that Felix – who he describes as "reserved" and as an individual often rather "shy", but who can also be extremely "funny" – has the intelligence, character and support of his own. a strong family not to go away.
"Even though he's already a star, he's a young boy who's humble, he's a nice guy, he's a nice person," says Gomes .
Tralhao agrees and says that even if football will "create obstacles", his former young player has the intelligence to find them.
Meanwhile, Benfica hopes to take advantage of Felix's intelligence and ability on the park.
Next leg: UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg against Frankfurt.
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