List of S.L. Benfica players explained

Sport Lisboa e Benfica is a Portuguese professional football team based in São Domingos de Benfica, Lisbon.^[1] The club was formed in 1904 and played its first competitive match on 4 November 1906, when it entered the inaugural edition of the Campeonato de Lisboa. They won their first title in 1910, and their first nationwide club competition in 1930, the Campeonato de Portugal, a knockout competition which determined the Portuguese champion among the winners of the regional championships.^[2] In 1934, an experimental league competition known as Primeira Liga was introduced in Portuguese football. Due to its success among the clubs, it became the official top-tier championship in 1938, in place of the Campeonato de Portugal.^[2] Since its first edition, Benfica have won a record 38 titles.^[3] Internationally, they won the European Cup twice, in 1961 and 1962.

Since their first competitive match, more than 750 players have appeared in first-team matches for the club, and almost 150 have made at least 100 appearances. Six former players went on to be first-team managers: Fernando Caiado, José Augusto, Toni, Artur Jorge, Shéu, and Fernando Chalana. Benfica's record appearance maker is Nené, who played 575 matches during his record 18-year career at the club; he is followed by António Veloso and Luisão, each with 538 appearances in 15 seasons. Manuel Bento, who appeared 465 times for the club, is the oldest player to have played for Benfica. He was 41 years and 298 days when he played against Belenenses on 20 May 1990.

Eusébio is the club's top goalscorer with 474 goals in 15 seasons, 317 of which were scored in league matches. Ten players have made more than 400 appearances, including four members of the 1961 European Cup-winning team.^[4] Other than Eusébio, only two players, Nené and José Águas, have scored more than 300 goals for the club.

Key

• The list is ordered by date of debut.
• Appearances as a substitute are included.
• Statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 17 August 2024. Where a player left the club permanently after this date, his statistics are updated to the date of departure.

Positions key

Pre-1960s		1960s–
GK	Goalkeeper
FB	Full back	DF	Defender
HB	Half back	MF	Midfielder
FW	Forward
U	Utility player

Players with 100 or more appearances

Table of players, including playing position, club statistics and international team

Player	Pos	Club career	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	International team	Caps<	-- 0 caps is entered as, to force zero to sort above dash -->	Notes	Refs
League	Total
scope=row			1917–1929	101	39	101	39		1
scope=row			1924–1932	92	33	116	43		3
scope=row			1927–1936	79	62	132	108		19
scope=row			1932–1939	71	0	157	2		9
scope=row			1932–1945	172	12	343	21		10
scope=row			1932–1940	68	46	168	100		—	—
scope=row			1934–1946	153	4	318	6		5
scope=row			1934–1944	136	86	264	158		4
scope=row			1936–1937 1938–1945	54	0	108	1	—	—
scope=row			1936–1950	117	79	211	152		8
scope=row			1938–1946	50	0	111	1	—	—
scope=row			1938–1952	265	23	398	34		25
scope=row			1938–1947	141	0	265	0		1
scope=row			1938–1946	87	66	173	121		1
scope=row			1942–1953	144	154	200	205		1
scope=row			1942–1954	212	125	320	212		15
scope=row			1943–1955	223	154	299	220		2
scope=row			1943–1953 1954–1957	202	0	251	0	—	—
scope=row			1944–1954	148	2	188	3		15
scope=row			1944–1954	202	4	266	4		7
scope=row			1945–1954	191	1	227	1	—	—
scope=row			1946–1953	102	37	127	57	—	—
scope=row			1949–1959	142	0	197	0	—	—
scope=row			1950–1963	281	290	383	379		25
scope=row			1950–1961	229	0	284	0		2
scope=row			1952–1959	118	17	141	22		16
scope=row			1952–1965	231	3	285	4		20
scope=row			1953–1961	106	36	114	36		3
scope=row			1954–1960	109	1	140	1		1
scope=row			1954–1970	279	77	416	106		18
scope=row			1954–1970	364	89	525	127		57
scope=row			1954–1967	253	0	359	0		22
scope=row			1956–1967	104	51	161	79		5
scope=row			1956–1963	70	0	109	0		1
scope=row			1958–1966	104	5	155	6	—	—
scope=row			1959–1970	246	104	369	175		43
scope=row			1959–1970	227	0	344	1		11
scope=row			1959–1971	173	151	259	226		31
scope=row			1960–1975	301	317	440	473		64
scope=row			1960–1969	57	0	106	0	—	—
scope=row			1960–1966	75	4	131	6		17
scope=row			1961–1975	310	46	447	72		46
scope=row			1962–1969	123	2	193	7		11
scope=row			1962–1971	114	5	166	10		5
scope=row			1964–1965 1966–1976	138	1	192	1		5
scope=row			1966–1975	141	3	205	5		15
scope=row			1966–1968 1969–1977	84	8	122	22	—	—
scope=row			1966–1979	217	0	299	0		15
scope=row			1966–1975	159	19	229	29		24
scope=row			1968–1975 1977–1984	355	56	498	81		64
scope=row			1968–1986	423	264	575	360		66
scope=row	Toni		1968–1981	297	16	392	23		33
scope=row	Artur Jorge		1969–1975	95	74	130	105		13
scope=row			1969–1978	149	22	191	28		3
scope=row			1969–1977	89	1	123	2		6
scope=row			1970–1971 1973–1977	80	0	106	3		8
scope=row			1971–1977	97	42	151	63		8
scope=row			1971–1977	124	3	159	3		26
scope=row			1971–1976	90	63	127	81		12
scope=row			1972–1990	328	0	465	0		63
scope=row			1972–1989	349	33	487	45		24
scope=row			1972–1987	277	4	391	4		10
scope=row			1975–1984 1987–1990	224	36	310	47		27
scope=row			1975–1979	89	1	114	1		4
scope=row			1976–1980	92	1	123	1		7
scope=row			1976–1978 1979–1987	160	18	224	21		4
scope=row			1976–1986	227	19	313	24		23
scope=row			1978–1983	97	28	141	32		17
scope=row			1978–1982	85	48	117	59		3
scope=row			1978–1980 1982–1990	270	62	302	83		19
scope=row			1979–1988	215	40	318	58		42
scope=row			1980–1995	419	9	538	9		40
scope=row			1981–1990	177	6	261	8		20
scope=row			1982–1987	98	3	146	5		3
scope=row			1983–1987	89	47	132	75		2
scope=row			1983–1991 1992–1993	117	1	159	2	—	—
scope=row			1984–1988	74	10	110	20		6
scope=row			1984–1988	91	12	139	23	—	—
scope=row			1985–1988 1990–1994	173	77	237	104		22
scope=row			1985–1988 1990–1994	97	11	134	14	—	—
scope=row			1985–1995	100	21	144	36		10
scope=row			1985–1987 1990–1995	100	0	133	0		5
scope=row			1986–1987 1989–1993	99	3	135	3		1
scope=row			1986–1994	184	0	263	0		19
scope=row			1987–1992	122	65	164	84		20
scope=row			1987–1989 1992–1995	120	11	161	14		3
scope=row			1987–1993	162	30	218	48		6
scope=row			1988–1991 1995–1997	138	20	183	28		31
scope=row			1988–1991 1995–1996	100	23	140	26		22
scope=row			1988–1995	207	28	288	44		44
scope=row			1989–1995 1997–2002	169	4	225	7		22
scope=row			1989–1993	87	1	112	2		9
scope=row			1989–1992	71	8	101	10		26
scope=row			1990–1995	125	52	178	71	—	—
scope=row			1991–1994 2006–2008	121	18	178	29		8
scope=row			1991–1994	77	7	112	10		25
scope=row			1992–1996 2002–2004	166	11	229	16		26
scope=row			1992–2000	220	64	302	90		55
scope=row			1994–1999	147	0	199	0		3		^[5]
scope=row			1995–2001	138	4	188	8		2
scope=row			1996–2001	111	4	140	5	—	—
scope=row			1996–2001	61	11	112	17		35
scope=row			1997–2000 2002–2011	293	125	398	166		60
scope=row			2000–2005	131	12	161	13		23
scope=row			2001–2010	101	29	129	31		29
scope=row			2001–2011	112	0	148	0		1
scope=row			2001–2007	172	76	230	94		48
scope=row			2001–2005	80	14	102	20		23
scope=row			2002–2008	148	12	212	14		44
scope=row			2002–2007	115	3	162	3		6
scope=row			2003–2006	91	16	131	23	—	—
scope=row			2003–2018	337	26	538	47		35	^[6] ^[7]	^[8]
scope=row			2004–2010	144	0	184	0		11
scope=row			2005–2009	82	1	127	2	—	—
scope=row			2005–2008	72	0	107	2	—	—
scope=row			2006–2009	80	10	122	15		31
scope=row			2007–2011 2013–2015	95	5	154	6		14		^[9]
scope=row			2007–2010 2023–	105	16	174	32		4		^[10]
scope=row			2007–2014	175	112	293	172		43		^[11]
scope=row			2007–2011	82	4	131	6		4
scope=row			2007–2015	212	13	333	21		91		^[12]
scope=row			2008–2013	107	12	179	17		1		^[13]
scope=row			2008–2011 2012–2014	79	6	133	11		10		^[14]
scope=row			2009–2012	74	6	132	14		1
scope=row			2009–2012	69	24	122	39	—	—
scope=row			2010–2016	152	25	253	41		8		^[15]
scope=row			2010–2011 2012–2019	166	38	266	62		10		^[16]
scope=row			2011–2014	78	9	136	12		24		^[17]
scope=row			2011–2021	165	11	283	16	—	—		^[18]
scope=row			2011–2014	68	27	120	45	—	—		^[19]
scope=row			2011–2015	85	0	144	0	—	—		^[20]
scope=row			2011 2012–2014	70	9	117	10		10		^[21]
scope=row			2012–2015	89	53	144	70	—	—		^[22]
scope=row			2012–2023	193	9	308	11		8		^[23]
scope=row			2013–2020	114	1	169	2		12		^[24]
scope=row			2014–2022	234	64	360	94		15		^[25]
scope=row			2014–2021	132	4	196	5		32		^[26]
scope=row			2014–2019	132	110	183	137		4		^[27]
scope=row			2014–2018	75	4	109	4		25		^[28]
scope=row		FW	2015–2018	80	18	120	31		30		^[29]
scope=row			2016–2021	114	11	172	21		4		^[30]
scope=row			2016–2023	197	19	303	27	—	—		^[31]
scope=row			2016–2024	206	64	326	94		16		^[32]
scope=row			2017–2020	91	9	137	12		19		^[33]
scope=row			2017–2022	120	57	188	74		38		^[34]
scope=row			2018–2023	152	0	225	0		31		^[35]
scope=row			2018–2021	59	3	100	5	—	—		^[36]
scope=row			2019–2020;2021;2022–	86	1	133	1	—	—		^[37]
scope=row			2019–2021;2022–2024	78	5	126	9	—	—		^[38]
scope=row			2019–2022	79	2	129	2		5		^[39]
scope=row			2020–2022	77	3	115	5	—	—		^[40]
scope=row			2020–	118	4	179	7		32		^[41]
scope=row			2020–2023	66	4	106	8	—	—		^[42]
scope=row			2020–2023	64	30	106	41		7		^[43]
scope=row			2021–	94	23	149	36		11		^[44]

Players with fewer than 100 appearances

See main article: List of S.L. Benfica players (25–99 appearances).

See also

• List of S.L. Benfica records and statistics

References

General

• Book: Tovar, Rui Miguel . Almanaque do Benfica . Benfica's Almanac . Portuguese . Lua de Papel . Alfragide . 2012 . 978-989-23-2087-8 .
• Book: Pereira, Luís Miguel . Bíblia do Benfica . Benfica's Bible . Portuguese . PrimeBooks . Carcavelos . 2014 . 978-989-655-215-2 .

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Futebol, SAD. Liga Portugal. 20 April 2016. Portuguese.
2. Web site: Claro . Paulo . Campeonato de Portugal 1921–1938 . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation . 3 August 2016 . 19 May 2016.
3. Web site: Honours. Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 3 August 2016.
4. News: 400 jogos oficiais de Luisão de "águia ao peito". 400 official games for Luisão with the Benfica shirt. 20 April 2016. SL Benfica. 25 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140705221346/http://www.slbenfica.pt/noticias/detalhedenoticia/tabid/2788/ArticleId/34663/language/pt-PT/400-jogos-oficiais-de-Luisao-de-aguia-ao-peito-com-video.aspx. 5 July 2014. Portuguese.
5. News: Michel Preud'homme - International Appearances. rsssf. 31 March 2011. 4 February 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309220029/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/preudhomme-intl.html. 9 March 2016.
6. News: Luisão passou Coluna: "Ele dar-lhe-ia os parabéns". Luisão surpassed Coluna: "He was going to congratulate him". 13 April 2016. Mais Futebol. Pedro Calhau. 28 April 2015. Portuguese.
7. News: Luisão: Mais um marco histórico do capitão!. Luisão: Another historic mark for the captain!. 5 August 2017. SL Benfica. 5 August 2017. Portuguese.
8. Web site: Luisão. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
9. Web site: Rúben Amorim. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
10. Web site: Ángel Di María. Soccerway. 9 August 2023.
11. Web site: Oscar Cardozo. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
12. Web site: Maxi Pereira . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
13. Web site: Pablo Aimar. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
14. Web site: Carlos Martins. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
15. Web site: Nicolás Gaitán . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
16. Web site: Eduardo Salvio . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
17. Web site: Ezequiel Garay . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
18. Web site: Jardel . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
19. Web site: Rodrigo. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
20. Web site: Artur. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
21. Web site: Enzo Pérez . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
22. Web site: Lima . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
23. Web site: André Almeida . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
24. Web site: Fejsa. Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
25. Web site: Pizzi. Soccerway. 14 September 2019.
26. Web site: Samaris . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
27. Web site: Jonas . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
28. Web site: Eliseu . Soccerway. 9 March 2019.
29. Web site: Raúl Jiménez . Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
30. Web site: Franco Cervi. Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
31. Web site: Álex Grimaldo. Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
32. Web site: Rafa Silva. Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
33. Web site: Rubén Dias. Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
34. Web site: Haris Seferović. Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
35. Web site: Odysseas Vlachodimos. Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
36. Web site: Gabriel. Soccerway.com. 9 March 2019.
37. Web site: Florentino Luís. Soccerway.com. 9 November 2019.
38. Web site: Chiquinho. Soccerway.com. 27 February 2020.
39. Web site: A. Taarabt. Soccerway.com. 14 December 2019.
40. Web site: Julian Weigl. Soccerway.com. 4 October 2020.
41. Web site: Nicolás Otamendi. Soccerway.com. 4 March 2021.
42. Web site: Gilberto. Soccerway.com. 1 March 2021.
43. Web site: Gonçalo Ramos. Soccerway.com. 20 October 2021.
44. Web site: João Mário. Soccerway.com. 12 December 2021.