| Hélio Varela | |
| Fullname: | Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela |
| Birth Date: | 3 May 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Almada, Portugal |
| Height: | 1.76 m |
| Position: | Winger |
| Currentclub: | Gent |
| Clubnumber: | 29 |
| Youthyears1: | 2010–2012 |
| Youthclubs1: | Monte Caparica |
| Youthyears2: | 2012–2014 |
| Youthclubs2: | Charneca Caparica |
| Youthyears3: | 2014–2018 |
| Youthclubs3: | Vitória Setúbal |
| Youthyears4: | 2018–2020 |
| Youthclubs4: | Cova da Piedade |
| Years1: | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Amora |
| Caps1: | 8 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021–2022 |
| Caps2: | 26 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Years3: | 2022–2024 |
| Caps3: | 33 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | Gent |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam1: | Cape Verde |
| Nationalcaps1: | 8 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Pcupdate: | 18:11, 16 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Ntupdate: | 18:11, 16 August 2024 (UTC) |
Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela (born 3 May 2002) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club Gent. Born in Portugal, Varela plays for the Cape Verde national team.
Varela is a youth product of Monte Caparica, Charneca Caparica, Vitória Setúbal and Cova da Piedade. He began his senior career with Amora in 2020, before joining Sintrense for the 2021–22 Liga 3 season.[1] He moved to the reserves of Portimonense in the summer of 2022. He made his professional debut with them in a 0–0 (5–4) Taça da Liga penalty shootout loss to Leixões on 30 July 2023.[2] He scored his first league goal in a 1–1 Primeira Liga tie with Arouca on 26 August 2023.[3]
On 16 August 2024, Varela joined Gent.[4]
Born in Portugal, Varela is of Cape Verdean descent. He was called up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies in October 2023.[5] He debuted with Cape Verde as a substitute in a 5–1 friendly loss to Algeria on 12 October 2023.[6]