Sport Lisboa e Benfica is a Portuguese professional football team based in São Domingos de Benfica, Lisbon.[1][a] 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.[4][5] They won their first regional title in 1910,[6] and their first nationwide in 1930, the Campeonato de Portugal, a knockout competition which determined the Portuguese champion among the winners of the regional championships.[7][8] 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.[7] Since its first edition, Benfica have won a record 38 titles.[1] Internationally, they won the European Cup twice, in 1961 and 1962.[1]
Since their first competitive match, more than 750 players have made a competitive first-team appearance for the club, many of whom have played between 25 and 99 matches. Dimas, Tahar El Khalej, and Nemanja Matić all fell one short of 100 appearances, as they all moved elsewhere while the season was ongoing. Four former players went on to be first-team managers: Cosme Damião, Ribeiro dos Reis, Vítor Gonçalves, and Cândido Tavares.[9][10][11]Hugo Leal, who appeared 41 times for the club, is the youngest player to have played for Benfica. He was 16 years and 335 days when he played against Sporting de Espinho on 20 April 1997.[12][13]João Félix holds the club record sale at €126 million.[14] Nemanja Matić and Darwin Núñez are the only players listed to have been selected as Primeira Liga Player of the Year.[15][16][b] Of the players still at the club, Anatoliy Trubin is the closest to 100 appearances; he has played 78 matches.
As of 2 February 2025, a total of 282 players have played between 25 and 99 competitive matches for the club. Of those players, 11 are still playing for the club.
Statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 2 February 2025. Where a player left the club permanently after this date, his statistics are updated to his date of leaving.
Player
Players with name in italics were on loan from another club for part or all of their Benfica career. The loaning club is noted in the Notes column, and for the players who later signed a permanent deal, their time spent at loan is specified.
Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. Thus the change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.
Club career
Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.
League appearances and League goals
League appearances and goals comprise those in the Campeonato de Lisboa and the Primeira Liga. Starting in the 1934–35 season, appearances are only counted in the Primeira Liga.
Countries are listed only for players who have been selected for international football. Only the highest level of international competition is given, except where a player competed for more than one country, in which case the highest level reached for each country is shown.
Caps
For players having played at full international level, the caps column counts the number of such appearances during his career with the club. All information relating to international selection, including number of full caps won while with the club, is sourced to Tovar (2012), pp. 679–761, unless otherwise noted.
List of players (25 to 99 appearances)
Founder Cosme Damião made 67 appearances for Benfica.Glenn Strömberg made only 44 appearances but won two league titles.Dimas made 99 appearances between 1994 and December 1996.Darwin Núñez made 85 appearances for Benfica.Of the 11 players currently with Benfica, Anatoliy Trubin is the closest to 100 appearances.
Table of players, including playing position, club statistics and international selection
^"História de São Domingos de Benfica" [History of São Domingos de Benfica]. Junta de Freguesia de São Domingos de Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 April 2016.