S.L. Benfica
Portuguese football team.
Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known as Benfica, is a professional football club based in Lisbon, Portugal. The club competes in the Primeira Liga, the top flight of Portuguese football. Benfica is one of the "Big Three" clubs in Portugal, alongside Sporting CP and FC Porto, that have never been relegated from the Primeira Liga. The club's nicknames include "As Águias" (The Eagles), derived from the eagle symbol atop their crest, and "Os Encarnados" (The Reds), referring to their primary shirt color.
Benfica plays its home matches at the Estádio da Luz, which has been their home ground since 2003. The stadium, with a capacity of over 64,000, replaced the original Estádio da Luz built in 1954. Benfica is renowned for its massive support base, being the most supported Portuguese club with an estimated 14 million supporters worldwide and over 250,000 members, making it the largest sports club by membership in Portugal and the second largest in the world.
Founded in 1904, Benfica has a rich history of success both domestically and in European competitions. The club has won a record 38 Primeira Liga titles, 26 Taça de Portugal trophies, and 7 Taça da Liga cups. Their first league title came in the 1935-36 season, and they have since dominated Portuguese football for long periods.
Benfica's golden era came in the 1960s when they won two consecutive European Cups (now UEFA Champions League) in 1961 and 1962, led by the legendary Eusébio. During this decade, they also reached three more European Cup finals. The club's success in this period established them as a major force in European football.
In domestic competitions, Benfica has set several records. They became the first team in Portuguese league history to complete two seasons without defeat in 1972-73 and 1977-78. The club also holds the European record for the most consecutive wins in a domestic league (29) and the longest unbeaten run in all competitions since the advent of European competition (48 matches).
Benfica's youth academy, known as "Caixa Futebol Campus," has produced numerous talented players who have gone on to achieve success both at the club and internationally. Notable academy graduates include Rui Costa, Bernardo Silva, and João Félix.
The club's biggest rivalry is with Sporting CP, with whom they contest the Lisbon derby. Matches against FC Porto are also highly anticipated and are crucial in determining the outcome of the Primeira Liga title race.
In recent years, Benfica has continued to dominate Portuguese football, winning multiple league titles and domestic cups. They have also regularly competed in the UEFA Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals in the 2021-22 season. Benfica's success and popularity have made it a significant cultural institution in Portugal. The club's anthem, "Ser Benfiquista," is a source of pride for supporters, who are referred to as "benfiquistas." The club's motto, "E pluribus unum" (Out of many, one), reflects the unity and passion of its fanbase.