Tomás Araújo Explained

Tomás Araújo
Fullname:Tomás Lemos Araújo
Birth Date:16 May 2002
Birth Place:Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
Height:1.87 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Benfica
Clubnumber:44
Youthyears1:2010–2015
Youthclubs1:Operário Famalicão
Youthyears2:2015
Youthclubs2:Evolution Soccer Academy
Youthyears3:2015–2016
Youthclubs3:Palmeiras FC
Youthyears4:2016–2022
Youthclubs4:Benfica
Years1:2020–
Clubs1:Benfica B
Caps1:48
Goals1:3
Years2:2021–
Clubs2:Benfica
Caps2:16
Goals2:1
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Gil Vicente (loan)
Caps3:22
Goals3:1
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Portugal U15
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:Portugal U16
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–2019
Nationalteam3:Portugal U17
Nationalcaps3:18
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019–2020
Nationalteam4:Portugal U18
Nationalcaps4:6
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2019–2020
Nationalteam5:Portugal U19
Nationalcaps5:5
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2021–2022
Nationalteam6:Portugal U20
Nationalcaps6:5
Nationalgoals6:0
Club-Update:1 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:18:33, 20 November 2023 (UTC)
Nationalcaps7:8
Nationalgoals7:0
Nationalteam7:Portugal U21
Nationalyears7:2023–

Tomás Lemos Araújo (born 16 May 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Benfica.

Club career

Araújo joined Benfica's academy in 2016, aged 14, having previously played at youth level for Operário Famalicão, Palmeiras FC and Evolution Soccer Academy.[1] On 22 May 2018, he signed his first professional contract with Benfica, until 2021.[2]

After rising through the club's youth ranks, Araújo made his professional debut for Benfica's B team on 19 September 2020, coming off the bench to replace Pedro Ganchas on the 71st minute of a 6–0 victory away at Casa Pia, in the Liga Portugal 2.[3] He made his first professional start on 24 October, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 league defeat at home against Académico de Viseu.[4] On 16 January 2021, Araújo scored his first professional goal, the opener in a 2–2 league draw at home to Académica de Coimbra.[5]

On 2 March 2021, Araújo signed a new deal with Benfica. The duration of the contract was undisclosed.[6]

On 15 December 2021, aged 19, Araújo made his debut for Benfica's main team, starting and playing the full match in a 3–0 home victory over Sporting da Covilhã in the Taça da Liga.[7] On 27 February 2022, he made his Primeira Liga debut, coming off the bench to replace Jan Vertonghen in extra-time of a 3–0 home victory over Vitória SC.[8] On 13 May, Araújo made his first Primeira Liga start, playing the full match in a 2–0 victory away at Paços de Ferreira.[9]

On 27 July 2022, Benfica sent Araújo on a season-long loan to fellow Primeira Liga club Gil Vicente.[10] Je made his debut for the Barcelos side on 18 August, starting in a 4–0 defeat away to AZ Alkmaar in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.[11] On 3 September, he made his first league appearance for Gil Vicente, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 home defeat to Porto.[12] Araújo scored his first Primeira Liga goal on 5 March 2023, Gil Vicente's second in a 2–0 victory at home against Marítimo.[13]

At the end of the 2022–23 season, Araújo returned to Benfica and, having impressed on loan, on 24 July 2023, he signed a new contract with the Eagles until 2028.[14]

On 3 October 2023, Araújo made his UEFA Champions League debut for Benfica, in a group stage match away at Inter Milan, coming off the bench in the first-half to replace the injured Alexander Bah, and playing the rest of the game as a makeshift right-back; Benfica lost 1–0.[15]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Benfica B2020–21Liga Portugal 2271271
2021–22Liga Portugal 2212212
Total483483
Benfica2021–22Primeira Liga3000100040
2023–24Primeira Liga70103030140
Total100104030180
Gil Vicente (loan)2022–23Primeira Liga221002020261
Career total804106050924

Honours

Benfica

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 24 July 2023 . Tomás Araújo: "O Benfica é a minha casa desde os 14 anos" . Tomás Araújo: "Benfica is my house since 14 years old" . 24 September 2023 . SAPO Desporto . pt-pt.
  2. Web site: 22 May 2018 . Tomás Araújo assina contrato profissional . Tomás Araújo signs professional contract . 24 September 2023 . Record . pt-PT.
  3. Web site: 19 September 2020 . Benfica B avassalador com goleada e um hat-trick . Benfica B overwhelming with thrashing and an hat-trick . 24 September 2023 . SL Benfica . pt-PT.
  4. Web site: 24 October 2020 . Benfica B-Ac. Viseu, 0-1: triunfo viseense na estreia do técnico Pedro Duarte . Benfica B-Ac. Viseu, 0-1: "viseense" triumph in manager Pedro Duarte's debut . 24 September 2023 . Record . pt-PT.
  5. Web site: 16 January 2021 . Vitória escapa nos instantes finais . Victory escapes in the final instants . 24 September 2023 . SL Benfica . pt-pt.
  6. Web site: 2 March 2021 . Tomás Araújo renova contrato . Tomás Araújo renews contract . 24 September 2023 . SL Benfica . pt-PT.
  7. Web site: 15 December 2021 . Tomás Araújo: estreia pela equipa A aos 19 anos . Tomás Araújo: debut for A team at 19 years old . 24 September 2023 . SL Benfica . pt-PT.
  8. Web site: 27 February 2022 . A vitória mais expressiva da era Veríssimo, com ovação e braçadeira para Yaremchuck . The most expressive victory of the Veríssimo era, with ovation and flag for Yaremchuk . 24 September 2023 . Diário de Notícias . pt-PT.
  9. Web site: Maia . Vítor . 13 May 2022 . P. Ferreira-Benfica, 0-2 (crónica) . P. Ferreira-Benfica, 0-2 (chronicle) . 24 September 2023 . Maisfutebol . pt-pt.
  10. Web site: 27 July 2022 . Oficial: Tomás Araújo emprestado pelo Benfica ao Gil Vicente . Official: Tomás Araújo loaned by Benfica to Gil Vicente . 24 September 2023 . O Jogo . pt-PT.
  11. Web site: Cruz . André . 18 August 2022 . Liga Conferência: AZ Alkmaar-Gil Vicente, 4-0 (crónica) . Conference League: AZ Alkmaar-Gil Vicente, 4-0 (chronicle) . 24 September 2023 . Maisfutebol . pt-pt.
  12. Web site: 3 September 2022 . Gil Vicente perde com o FC Porto em Barcelos e já não ganha há quatro jogos . Gil Vicente loses to FC Porto in Barcelos and hasn't won in four games . 24 September 2023 . O Minho . pt-PT.
  13. Web site: Dantas . Nuno . 5 March 2023 . Gil Vicente-Marítimo, 2-0 (destaques) . Gil Vicente-Marítimo, 2-0 (highlights) . 24 September 2023 . Maisfutebol . pt-pt.
  14. Web site: 24 July 2023 . Tomás Araújo renova até 2028 . Tomás Araújo renews until 2028 . 24 September 2023 . SL Benfica . pt-pt.
  15. Web site: 3 October 2023 . Alexander Bah lesiona-se em Milão e promove estreia de Tomás Araújo na Champions . Alexander Bah injured in Milan and promotes Tomás Araújo's Champions debut . 3 October 2023 . OneFootball . pt-pt.
  16. Web site: Vaza . Marco . 9 August 2023 . Benfica soube mudar para ganhar a Supertaça . 9 August 2023 . Público . pt.
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220426135322/https://www.abola.pt/clubes/2022-04-26/benfica-conheca-os-24-herois-da-youth-league/938266/40 Conheça os 24 heróis da Youth League