The Deus Brothers: How Miguel and Nuno Are Quietly Climbing the Padel World Rankings
What if Portugal’s next big sports duo isn’t on a football pitch?
You’ve been watching padel heat up. Maybe you've seen highlight reels of impossible smashes, or caught a glimpse of a tense rally on Instagram that made your thumb pause mid-scroll. And lately, the same two names keep showing up at the big events: Miguel and Nuno Deus.
They’re brothers from Lisbon, not just national champions, but now competing on the world stage in Premier Padel events, exceeding expectations.
Curious how two brothers from Lisbon are upending padel’s global order? This is your inside look into their journey from Portugal’s local courts to serious global threat status. Let’s start at the beginning, with the brothers themselves.
Meet the Brothers: Miguel & Nuno Deus
Growing up in Lisbon, they now climb the international padel rankings together.
Miguel Deus, the older of the two, was born in 1993. He plays on the right side, standing at 1.80m, and brings calm decision-making and tactical sharpness to the court. His style is calculated but aggressive when it counts; the kind of partner who makes fewer mistakes and sets up big plays.
Nuno Deus, born in 1995, is the left-side attacker. Taller at 1.84m and a touch flashier, he’s the one who brings the fireworks: aggressive volleys, powerful overheads, and a hunger to finish points. His instincts are bold, which balances perfectly with Miguel’s structure.
Together, they’ve turned sibling chemistry into a serious competitive edge. There’s no ego between them, just a deep understanding of each other’s rhythm, and it shows in how they move, cover, and fight through points. You can’t fake that kind of connection.
They train under Gervásio del Bono and Sebastião Mendonça, and while their story starts in Portugal, it’s the international stage where they’re now making real noise.
National Success: From Local Talent to Portuguese Champions
National Success: From Local Talent to Portuguese Champions
Before they stepped onto international courts, the Deus brothers ruled the courts at home.
Miguel and Nuno have twice claimed the title of Portuguese National Champions: first in 2023, and then again in 2025, reclaiming their crown after a dominant final against A. Luque and Peu Araújo (6-2, 6-4). These weren’t fluke wins. They’ve built a reputation for being tough, disciplined, and relentless, especially when playing under pressure.
They’re also tied closely to one of the biggest sports institutions in Portugal: Sporting CP Padel. That affiliation gives them not only visibility but also backing from a club with serious resources and national pride behind it.
Their local success wasn’t just a highlight; it was the foundation. Winning nationally gave them the confidence, the credibility, and the ranking points to chase something bigger. And when they stepped onto the FIP Tour and Premier Padel circuit, they didn’t just show up—they came ready.
Breaking Into the International Circuit
Breaking Into the International Circuit
Plenty of players win at home. Far fewer make the leap internationally. But that’s exactly what Miguel and Nuno Deus have done, and they’ve done it on their own terms.
Across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the brothers started cracking into main draws at some of the biggest events in the sport. Qatar Major, Mar del Plata P1, Paris Major, Madrid P1, Kuwait City P1, and more: their names started showing up in qualifying rounds, and soon after, in main brackets alongside the sport’s elite.
They’ve earned these slots the hard way: through gritty qualifiers, smart tactical play, and by outlasting more experienced teams in early rounds. In Mar del Plata P1 (2024), they qualified as a duo, marking a real turning point in their international journey. And when Nuno was recovering from injury, Miguel paired with Carlos Pérez Cabeza to qualify for the Qatar Major, showing he wasn’t slowing down, even without his brother.
Their performances haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2024, they lifted the FIP Rise Stratford trophy. In 2025, they added a win at FIP Silver Koksijde in Belgium. These aren’t just warm-up tournaments; they’re where many of the next big names earn their stripes.
In other words: Miguel and Nuno Deus are no longer just Portugal’s top talents; they’re establishing themselves as serious global contenders in the sport.
Biggest Tests So Far
Biggest Tests So Far
You don’t earn respect in padel just by showing up. You earn it by who you face and how hard you make them work.
The Deus brothers have shared the court with the very best in the world, and while they haven’t pulled off a giant-killing just yet, they’ve come dangerously close.
In Kuwait City P1 (2024), they gave Galán and Chingotto, a top pair, a real scare. It wasn’t just a “fun experience”; it was a match commentators noticed. Later, against Coello and Tapia at Asunción P2 in 2025, they didn’t back down either.
By the time they met Galán and Chingotto again at the Paris Major (2025), they were more than just a wildcard pairing. They were competitors, pushing the match to a tight 6-3, 7-5 scoreline and showing signs that they were closing the gap.
These matches matter because the Deus brothers prove they belong among the world’s best, not as fillers, but as real disruptors drawing closer to breakthroughs every time.
Why They Matter Now
Miguel and Nuno Deus aren’t an emerging story; they are the real-time proof that Portuguese padel has arrived on the world stage.
By 2025, both are ranked inside the Top 40 worldwide (FIP), with more main-draws, FIP titles, and two national championships. Their win rates are around 60–61%, and they’re still improving. That’s not just consistent; it’s competitive.
And they’re doing it without a media machine, without constant spotlight. Just two brothers, grinding it out on the tour, and making believers out of people match by match.
They’ve got the chemistry. They’ve got the coaching. They’ve got the game. And more importantly, they’ve got the attention of serious players and fans, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who was seen celebrating their qualification at Riyadh P1 in 2025.
In a sport often led by Spain and Argentina, the Deus brothers are building Portugal’s legitimate presence at the top. Their rise signals a turning point.
So, if you haven’t tuned in yet, now’s the perfect time to follow the Deus brothers: catch their matches, join their growing fanbase, and witness Portugal’s next global sports story unfold in real time.
Where To Watch Them / What’s Next
If you want to keep an eye on the Deus brothers, you won’t have to look far, but you do have to pay attention.
They’re regularly competing in Premier Padel events, especially P1 and P2 tournaments across Europe, the Middle East, and South America. From the Paris Major to Madrid P1, Kuwait, Málaga, and Mar del Plata, they’re qualifying into some of the sport’s toughest draws.
For real-time updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content, both are active on Instagram:
- @miguel.deus, Bio: “Pro Padel Player @sportingcp, 2× National Champion ’23 ’25”
- @nuno.deus: “Pro Padel Player, National Champion”
You’ll also catch match clips and rallies via Premier Padel’s official channels, where their performances have already started featuring in highlight reels.|
And if you’re based in Portugal? Chances are they’re repping Sporting CP Padel and competing locally between international stints. The next time you see a match flyer or stream featuring the Deus surname, tune in. They’re no longer just national champions. They’re becoming global contenders.
What about their rackets?
The Deus brothers have their own Cork Racket named after them, which can be bought on PadelDogs.com
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