Rúben dos Santos Gato Alves Dias (born 14 May 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Manchester City and the Portugal national team.
Considered one of the best defenders in the world, he is known for his defensive prowess, leadership, and aerial ability.
Dias came through Benfica's youth academy.
Rúben dos Santos Gato Alves Dias was born on 14 May 1997 in Amadora, Lisbon District.
He has an older brother Ivan, who is also a professional football player, who nicknamed him "Ruby".
Growing up, his idols were John Terry, Nemanja Vidić, Rio Ferdinand, and Vincent Kompany, whom he looked to emulate, as he idolized playing in the Premier League.
He would play football wherever he could on the streets or in his house with his brother Ivan.
Dias started his career at local club Estrela da Amadora after being brought to the club by a close family member.
Dias initially played as a striker, before switching to defence, due to his team being losing by two goals during a match.
2008
He moved to Benfica's youth academy in 2008, where he played initially as a midfielder, before changing position to centre-back for the junior side until 2015.
2015
He began playing for Benfica B in 2015 and was promoted to the first-team in 2017, and was named the Primeira Liga's Young Player of the Year.
In the same year, on 30 September, he made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 2015–16 LigaPro match against Chaves.
2016
On 7 March 2016, Rui Vitória called 18-year-old Dias for Benfica's UEFA Champions League Round of 16-second leg tie against Zenit Saint Petersburg after three of his four main centre-backs were unable to make the trip to Russia.
The following season he helped the B team finish fourth; the club's highest ever position obtained in the second division.
He also helped the junior team reach the final of the 2016–17 UEFA Youth League.
2017
On 16 September 2017, Dias debuted for the first team in a Primeira Liga match against Boavista.
After two months of impressive displays, including two games against Manchester United in the Champions League, he underwent surgery due to appendicitis, sidelining him for a month.
He scored his first goal for Benfica in a Taça da Liga encounter (2–2) against Vitória de Setúbal on 29 December 2017.
2018
The following season, Dias won the league title in the 2018–19 season with Benfica and later the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira during the 2019–20 season, while also being named in the Primeira Liga's Team of the Year, making over 100 appearances in the process.
He made his senior international debut in 2018, being chosen in Portugal's squads for the 2018 World Cup, 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, UEFA Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup; he won the 2019 tournament on home soil, while being named in the team of the tournament and man of the match in the final.
On 3 February 2018, he scored his first goal in the Primeira Liga against Rio Ave (5–1).
At the end of the season, he was voted Primeira Liga's best young player of the year.
After heavy speculation linking Dias to a big money move to French side Lyon, he extended his contract with Benfica until 2023.
2019
On 2 November 2019, Dias played his 100th game for the club and scored the opening goal against Rio Ave in a 2-0 home victory.
2020
He signed for Premier League club Manchester City in September 2020 for a reported fee of €68 million, becoming the second-highest fee for a Portuguese player leaving the domestic league.
Dias won the league title and EFL Cup in his first season, while also reaching the UEFA Champions League final.
He was also named FWA Footballer of the Year, Manchester City Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season and the UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season in 2021.
In 2022–23, he played a crucial role as City secured a first-ever continental treble.
Dias is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.
On 26 September 2020, Dias scored the opening goal against Moreirense in a 2–0 win.
After the game, manager Jorge Jesus admitted that it had likely been his last game for the club.
Dias signed for English Premier League club Manchester City on 29 September 2020 on a six-year contract, with an initial fee reported of €68 million (£61.64 million) that could rise to €71.6 million with performance bonuses, plus Nicolás Otamendi being sent to Benfica in part-exchange for €15 million bringing the net cost of the transaction to €56.6 million (£51 million).
On 3 October 2020, Dias made his league debut for City in a 1–1 away draw against Leeds United.
Dias was named the Manchester City Player of the Month for November 2020, following a series of very strong defensive performances.
On 27 February 2021, Dias scored his first goal for City in a 2–1 home league win over West Ham United.
He was praised as being a key factor in Manchester City regaining the Premier League title that season by bringing composure, leadership and stability back to the defence.
Dias won the FWA Footballer of the Year for the 2020–21 season, who described him as a "comfortable winner" ahead of Harry Kane and Kevin De Bruyne, and becoming the first defender to win the award since Steve Nicol in the 1988–89 season.
He was also named Manchester City's Player of the Season and the Premier League Player of the Season.
On 15 September 2021, Dias captained Manchester City for the first time, providing an assist for Jack Grealish in a 6–3 home Champions League win against RB Leipzig.
On 1 December, Dias opened the scoring in Manchester City's 2–1 victory over Aston Villa, with his first goal from outside the box in his career.
