| Édgar Benítez | |
| Fullname: | Édgar Milciades Benítez Santander |
| Birth Date: | 1987 11, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Repatriación, Caaguazú, Paraguay |
| Height: | 1.76 m |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | UCV |
| Clubnumber: | 33 |
| Years1: | 2005–2007 |
| Years2: | 2008 |
| Years3: | 2009–2013 |
| Years4: | 2011–2012 |
| Years5: | 2012–2013 |
| Years6: | 2013–2015 |
| Years7: | 2015–2018 |
| Years8: | 2018–2019 |
| Years9: | 2020 |
| Years10: | 2021 |
| Years11: | 2021–2022 |
| Years12: | 2023 |
| Years13: | 2023- |
| Clubs1: | Libertad |
| Clubs2: | → Sol de América (loan) |
| Clubs3: | Pachuca |
| Clubs4: | → Cerro Porteño (loan) |
| Clubs5: | → Toluca (loan) |
| Clubs6: | Toluca |
| Clubs7: | Queretaro |
| Clubs8: | Libertad |
| Clubs9: | Guaraní |
| Clubs10: | Sportivo Luqueño |
| Clubs11: | Alianza Lima |
| Clubs12: | General Caballero JLM |
| Clubs13: | UCV |
| Caps1: | 32 |
| Caps2: | 37 |
| Caps3: | 85 |
| Caps4: | 44 |
| Caps5: | 38 |
| Caps6: | 71 |
| Caps7: | 71 |
| Caps8: | 47 |
| Caps9: | 18 |
| Caps10: | 18 |
| Caps11: | 31 |
| Caps12: | 15 |
| Caps13: | 18 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Goals2: | 21 |
| Goals3: | 21 |
| Goals4: | 11 |
| Goals5: | 6 |
| Goals6: | 15 |
| Goals7: | 8 |
| Goals8: | 12 |
| Goals9: | 1 |
| Goals10: | 4 |
| Goals11: | 2 |
| Goals12: | 0 |
| Goals13: | 3 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2006–2007 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2008–2017 |
| Nationalteam1: | Paraguay U20 |
| Nationalteam2: | Paraguay |
| Nationalcaps2: | 56 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 9 |
| Club-Update: | 14:18, 28 September 2020 (UTC) |
| Ntupdate: | 2 June 2017 |
Édgar Milciades Benítez Santander (pronounced as /es/; born 8 November 1987), nicknamed Pájaro (pronounced as /es/; bird), is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a midfielder for UCV. He also holds Mexican citizenship. A Paraguayan international on 56 occasions since 2008, he represented for his country FIFA World Cup 2010 and two Copa América tournaments.[1] In 2006, he won the Milk Cup with Paraguay's under-20 team.[2]
Benítez started his career in Club 12 de Octubre of Itaugua before moving to Libertad in 2005, where he won the Paraguayan 1st division tournament although he mostly played as a substitute. In 2008, he was signed by Sol de América and quickly established himself in the club, being one of the team's top goalscorers.[3]
On 1 December 2008, it was announced that Benítez will play in the Mexican League for Pachuca CF. He made his debut with C.F. Pachuca on 2 January in the Interliga 2009, scoring his first goal with the club in the 4–0 win over Tecos UAG. He would end the tournament as the top goalscorer with 4 goals in 4 games, helping Pachuca obtain a spot in the qualifying round for the Copa Libertadores 2009.[4]
Since 2009 he wasn't considered as a starter for Pachuca. He is mainly used as a substitute for every match. He has participated constantly in Pachuca's matches in Bicentenario 2010. On 20 February 2010 he started a match against Chiapas. He scored twice in this game and Pachuca secured a 2–2. In June, 2015, Queretaro announced that Benítez would play for them for the upcoming season.
In the 2006 Milk Cup, he scored in the 60th minute in a 2–0 victory over the USA.[2]
He played first international match in 2008. Due to his good performances with Sol de América he was called for the Paraguay national football team and had a good debut, playing in his first 2010 World Cup qualification match against Peru in which Paraguay won 1–0.[5]
He was included in Paraguay's squad for the 2015 Copa América, scoring the only goal of a 1–0 win against Jamaica in the team's second group match on 16 June 2015.[6]
He scored the second goal for Paraguay in a 2–2 draw against Brazil for the nation's campaign to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Updated 29 March 2016
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Final | Competition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1 October 2008 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |||
| 2. | 1 April 2009 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |||
| 3. | 21 December 2011 | Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile | 1–1 | 3–2 | Friendly | ||
| 4. | 15 February 2012 | Estadio Feliciano Cáceres, Luque, Paraguay | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | ||
| 5. | 22 February 2012 | Estadio Feliciano Cáceres, Luque, Paraguay | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly | ||
| 6. | 22 March 2013 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | |||
| 7. | 11 October 2013 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | |||
| 8. | 16 June 2015 | Estadio Regional de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2015 Copa América | ||
| 9. | 29 March 2016 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
2006, 2007