Nicholas Benavides Medeiros (; born 5 November 2001) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a left back or a left winger for China League One club Foshan Nanshi and the Hong Kong national team.
Benavides started playing football at the age of six. As a youth player, Benavides joined the youth academy of Lee Man, before getting released due to his "foreign player" status. He started his senior career with First Division club Sham Shui Po, where he gained promotion to the Hong Kong Premier League in 2022.
On 3 March 2024, Benavides scored his first career hat-trick against Rangers in a 3âÂÂ1 win, which is Sham Shui Po's first win of the season. He became a free agent following Sham Shui Po's voluntary relegation back to the First Division.
In the summer of 2024, Benavides signed for Tai Po. On 1 September 2024, he debuted for the club during a 5âÂÂ1 home win over Kowloon City in the 2024âÂÂ25 Hong Kong Premier League.
On 15 January 2026, Tai Po announced Benavides' departure from the club.
On 2 March 2026, Benavides joined China League One club Foshan Nanshi.
Previously, Benavides was eligible to represent Bolivia and Chile internationally through his parents, but he relinquished his citizenship of both countries on 19 August 2023 in order to play for Hong Kong.
In October 2024, Benavides was called up to the Hong Kong national football team for the first time.
On 15 October 2024, Benavides made his international debut for Hong Kong in a 3âÂÂ0 home friendly win against Cambodia.
On 8 December 2024, Benavides scored his first international goal in a 3âÂÂ0 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifier victory against Mongolia.
Benavides was born in Hong Kong to a Bolivian mother and a Chilean father. He can speak Cantonese and Spanish and is the younger brother of Hong Kong footballer Oscar Benavides.