Tiago Filipe Sousa Dantas (born 24 December 2000) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Croatian Football League club Dinamo Zagreb.
Early Life and Career
Born in Estoril, Cascais, Portugal, Tiago Dantas began his footballing journey at a young age. He joined the prestigious S.L. Benfica academy at the age of 11, where he progressed through various youth ranks, known for his technical ability, vision, and passing range.Club Career
Benfica
Dantas rose through Benfica's youth system, eventually playing for their B team in the LigaPro, Portugal's second-tier league. He made his senior debut for Benfica B on 11 August 2019, coming on as a substitute in a match against Cova da Piedade. His performances for the B team caught the eye, leading to his debut for the first team on 21 December 2019, in a Taça da Liga match against Vitória de Setúbal.Loan to Bayern Munich
On 6 October 2020, Dantas moved to German giants Bayern Munich on a season-long loan deal. During his time in Germany, he primarily featured for Bayern Munich II in the 3. Liga, gaining valuable experience. He also made one appearance for the Bayern Munich first team, coming off the bench in a Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 15 May 2021.Loan to Tondela
For the 2021–22 season, Dantas returned to Portugal, joining C.D. Tondela on loan. He became a regular starter for the Primeira Liga side, making 30 appearances across all competitions, including playing in the final of the Taça de Portugal, which Tondela lost to Porto.Loan to PAOK
On 19 August 2022, Dantas embarked on another loan spell, this time moving to Greek Super League club PAOK. He featured regularly for the Thessaloníki-based club, making 38 appearances across all competitions and scoring 4 goals during his tenure.Dinamo Zagreb
On 12 July 2023, Dantas joined Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on a permanent transfer from Benfica, signing a four-year contract. He quickly integrated into the squad, contributing to their domestic and European campaigns.International Career
Tiago Dantas has represented Portugal at various youth international levels, including the U17, U18, U19, U20, and U21 teams. He was part of the Portugal U19 squad that reached the final of the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.Playing Style
Dantas is primarily a central midfielder, known for his excellent passing range, tactical intelligence, and ability to dictate play from deep or in a more advanced role. He possesses good technical skills, vision, and is comfortable in possession, often acting as a deep-lying playmaker or a box-to-box midfielder.Honours
Benfica B
- LigaPro U19 Championship: 2018–19
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2020–21
Tondela
- Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2021–22
Dinamo Zagreb
- Croatian Football League: 2023–24
- Croatian Football Cup: 2023–24
Portugal U19
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2019