Field Insider
Central midfielderPortugalLigat Ha'al

Hélio Varela

Squad depthMaccabi Tel Aviv · 24 yrsRotation

Profile

Full nameHélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela
PositionCentral midfielder
NationalityPortugal
Age24
Date of birth3 May 2002
BirthplaceAlmada
Height176 cm
Shirt number#29
ClubMaccabi Tel Aviv
More about Hélio Varela →
Central midfielderalso played FWD

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
30
Appearances
3
Goals
2
Assists
1557
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Also this season

Earlier this season at Gent — Jupiler Pro League: 3 apps, 0g 0a, 163 min

The headline Season rating covers his time at Maccabi Tel Aviv; availability counts only fixtures while in this squad.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
Ligat Ha'al303215576.88
UEFA Europa League8003686.63
Africa Cup of Nations Qualificationat Cape Verde Islands6013436.92
Jupiler Pro Leagueat Gent3001636.77

Scout report

Squad depthCentral midfielder

Hélio Varela is a 24-year-old central midfielder at Maccabi Tel Aviv, rated 42.3 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 11th of 132 on scout potential in the Ligat Ha'al. An emerging talent, he has been a rotation option this season (49.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 1.39 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Varela.

Judged on this season alone, Varela graded 22 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 12th of 26 of the 26 central midfielders in the Ligat Ha'al, on 3 goals, 2 assists and 1.387 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 2 → 22). Over the 3 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 42, top 8% of the 26 central midfielders in the Ligat Ha'al. At 24 Varela is in his prime years, and a market index of 7.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2025/26
Current potentialTop 8% central midfielders · Ligat Ha'alCurrent season12th of 26 central midfielders · Ligat Ha'al12th-best central midfielder in the Ligat Ha'al11th in the Ligat Ha'al · potential2nd-highest potential central midfielder in the Ligat Ha'al
42.3
Ratingi
2nd of 26 central midfielders
22
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
49.4%
Minutes
rotation minutes
1.39
Def. actions / 90
light defensive volume

Output in context · Maccabi Tel Aviv finished 3rd of 6 · a mid-table side

30
Apps
1.39
Def. / 90
14
Tackles
9
Interceptions
5
Clean sheets

1.39 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — light defensive volume, with 5 clean sheets across 30 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 3 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

  • Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.29 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central midfielder.

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 49.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
  • Defensive numbers. Modest 1.39 defensive actions per 90 for the position.
  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 42.3, Varela carries the 2nd-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Ligat Ha'al (top 8%). Defensively he reads as light defensive volume (1.39 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Ligat Ha'al with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals3

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles14
Interceptions9
Blocks1

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.