Nani joined Sporting CP from his first club, Real Massamá.[6] After two seasons in the youth team, where he won 🌞 the National Junior Championship in 2004–05, Nani was promoted to the first team early in the 2005–06 season.[11] On 10 🌞 August 2005, he made his Sporting CP debut, coming on as a substitute for Custódio in the 73rd minute in 🌞 a 1–0 home defeat to Udinese in their third-round qualifier in the UEFA Champions League.[11][12] Nani made his Portuguese Liga 🌞 debut on 28 August,[11] replacing Deivid in the 76th minute of a 1–2 victory over Marítimo at the Estádio dos 🌞 Barreiros.[13] Nani scored his first Sporting goal on 30 October, opening the scoring in a 2–2 draw away to Boavista.[14] 🌞 Nani ended the first season of his career with 5 goals from 36 appearances across all competitions.[15]

Nani scored his first 🌞 goal of the 2008–09 season on 23 September 2008, scoring United's third goal in a 3–1 win over Middlesbrough in 🌞 the last minute to secure passage to the Fourth Round of the League Cup.[41] On 18 October, he scored from 🌞 a Wayne Rooney assist to complete the 4–0 rout of West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford.[42] On 20 January 2009, 🌞 he opened the scoring for United in their 4–2 win at home to Derby County in the second leg of 🌞 their League Cup semi-final.[43]

On 26 May 2024, Nani was sent off in the Turkish Cup final for sarcastically applauding the 🌞 referee following a 1–0 loss to rivals Galatasaray.[106]

Nani was suspended for Valencia's season opener against Las Palmas as he had 🌞 not served his suspension from his last game for Fenerbahçe.[108] He debuted on 27 August in the next game, a 🌞 1–0 loss at Eibar.[109] On 25 September, in his 500th game as a professional, he opened his Valencia account with 🌞 his 100th goal to conclude a 2–1 win at Leganés.[110] In his one season at the Mestalla, he suffered four 🌞 muscular injuries over the course of the campaign – a contrast to his previous year in Turkey, where he played 🌞 64 games for club and country.[111]

While being able to play on both wings, Nani is more comfortable on the right 🌞 side, where he has been known to utilise his pace along with intricate dribbling skills and trickery to create space 🌞 in wide areas and provide crosses for teammates. Though capable of cutting inside from either wing to strike at goal 🌞 from distance, Nani scores fewer goals but produces a substantially higher proportion of assists than his compatriot Ronaldo. Due to 🌞 his potent attacking talents, he can play a variety of additional roles as a forward including as an inverted winger 🌞 on the left, second striker, or even in a more central position as a main striker, as he has played 🌞 frequently for Portugal.[166][167]