Sport Lisboa e Benfica (), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional futsal team based in Lisbon, Portugal, that plays in the Liga Portuguesa de Futsal, where they are the current champions.
Since its creation in 2001, the team has been a challenger for the domestic championship, and they won at least one trophy per season between 2005 and 2013. In 2006–07 and 2011–12, Benfica won all Portuguese competitions at the time (3). Benfica became the first Portuguese team to win the UEFA Futsal Champions League (then "UEFA Futsal Cup"), in 2010, and were ranked first in the competition's ranking two years later.
Benfica is the second-most decorated team in Portugal, with a total 34 trophies: 10 Portuguese League titles, 9 Portuguese Cups, 5 League Cups, 9 Super Cups, and 1 UEFA Futsal Champions League.
History
Establishment (2001–2004) Established on 13 September 2001, Benfica merged with futsal team Olímpico and became managed by company MPM on 2 June, with Benfica only providing the facilities, medical staff and kits. This union allowed Benfica to participate in the 2001–02 first division. In their debut, Benfica were runners-up, losing 3–2 to Miramar Futsal Clube with the decisive goal coming from a future Benfica glory, André Lima. Benfica's notable players in their first season were Portuguese internationals Naná, Vitinho I, Drula and Nelito, who were coached by Alípio Matos.
The following season, with new players such as André Lima, Rogério Vilela, Pedro Costa and Arnaldo Pereira, Benfica won their first league title, against Sporting CP, their first Taça de Portugal, and their first SuperTaça.
In 2003–04, notable players Ciço and Ricardinho joined Benfica. Benfica reached the 2003–04 UEFA Futsal Cup final, losing 7–5 on aggregate to Interviu.
Adil Amarante years (2004–2008) In 2004–05, Adil Amarante replaced Alípio Matos and added Nelito, Estrela and Pica Pau. Benfica won the Portuguese Cup against Boavista FC and the second league title against Sporting.
The next season, players such as Wilson, Côco and Sidnei joined Benfica, while Miguel Almeida and Zé Maria left. Benfica lost the Portuguese Cup to Sporting in the Final Four, and then the league.
In 2006–07, Benfica improved their squad with new players such as Gonçalo Alves, Bebé, Pedro Costa, Zé Maria and Estrela, who returned. Nelito ended his career. Benfica conquered the Super Cup. In May Benfica won another Portuguese Cup and by June another league
In the 2007–08 season, Arnaldo Pereira and Miguel Almeida returned, while Estrela left. Benfica started the season by winning the Super Cup. In January, César Paulo joined Benfica. In March, Adil Amarante left in disagreement with Benfica about his new contract, and was replaced by Beto Aranha, who lead Benfica to their first back-to-back champion titles.
André Lima years (2008–2010) In July 2008, despite being in charge only for four months, Benfica replaced Beto Aranha with former player and coach, André Lima. The only reinforcement was Pedrinho, while Miguel Almeida left. Benfica lost the Super Cup but won the Portuguese Cup, and the third league title in a row for the first time.
In 2009–10, Benfica hired Davi and Marinho, and went on winning their 13th title, the domestic Super Cup.
On 25 April 2010, Benfica became European champions by conquering the UEFA Futsal Cup, after defeating Luparense by 8–4 in the semi-finals, they beat Interviu 3–2 in the final; Benfica conceded first by Marquinho, but Joel Queirós and then Arnaldo put Benfica in the lead, Interviu equalised by Betão, but Davi in the final minutes sealed the historic victory.
In the remainder of the season, Benfica lost the Portuguese Cup to Belenenses and then the league to Sporting.
2010–present In the 2010–11 season, coach Paulo Fernandes, who had just won the league for Sporting, replaced European champion André Lima. Ricardinho left and was replaced by Diece. Another addition was Diego Sol who arrived from Belenenses, and Teka from Sporting. In this season Benfica lost the Portuguese Cup, and then the league in three matches, despite winning the regular phase. In European competitions, Benfica finished fourth in the 2010–11 UEFA Futsal Cup.
In 2011–12, Benfica added Marcão, Dentinho and Bruno Coelho. The season was better than the previous one as Benfica won all three competitions they entered: the Super Cup, Portuguese Cup and the league. Ricardinho returned in January on a 6 month-loan but failed to make an impact, being suspended for three matches in the final.
In 2012–13, Benfica hired Vítor Hugo and Nené. On 2 September 2012, they won their sixth Super Cup against Modicus (5–3) and tied with Sporting in terms of overall titles (17). After a series of bad results, including an early exit of the UEFA Futsal Cup, Paulo Fernandes was sacked and replaced by João Freitas Pinto. However, Benfica failed to retain the league title, losing 3–1 in the final against Sporting. In the offseason, Benfica did not renew the contract of Davi, Diego Sol, Diece, Marinho and César Paulo, replacing them with Ricardo Fernandes, Pablo del Moral, Rafael Henmi, Serginho, Bruno Pinto, Paulinho, Alan Brandi and Ivo Oliveira.
On 14 June 2015, Benfica became Portuguese champions for the seventh time and achieved their seventh double, defeating Sporting on penalties (2–3) in the fourth match of playoffs final. Benfica reached the playoff finals without defeat.
In August 2015, Benfica beat AD Fundão 6–3 and won the Super Cup. Benfica won again the Super Cup in October 2016, for a record eighth time, defeating Sporting 3–2. In the end of the season, Benfica beat Burinhosa and won their seventh Portuguese Cup (record). Later on, in January 2018, Benfica won their first League Cup with a 5–2 victory over Sporting.
Season to season Season League Portuguese Cup League Cup Super Cup UEFA Champions League 2001–022ndQFNot held2002–031stWinners2003–042nd3rd roundWinnersRunners-up2004–051st WinnersWinners2005–062ndFRunners-upRunners-upSecond round2006–071stWinnersWinnersWinners—2007–081stWinners2nd roundWinnersElite round2008–091stWinnersWinnersRunners-upElite round2009–103rdFRunners-upWinnersWinners2010–111stFRunners-up4th place2011–121stWinnersWinnersWinners—2012–132ndFQFWinnersMain round2013–141stSFRunners-up2014–151stWinnersWinners2015–162ndFRunners-upR1Winners3rd place2016–172ndSFWinnersR1Winners2017–182ndFRunners-upWinnersRunners-up2018–191stWinnersRunners-upWinnersElite round2019–20Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicWinnersRunners-upElite round2020–212ndFCancelledRunners-upRunners-upQuarter-finalist2021–222ndFRunners-upRunners-upRunners-up3rd place2022–233rdFWinnersWinnersRunners-up3rd place2023–243rdSFR16Runners-upWinners3rd place2024–252ndWinnersRunners-upSF2025–261stWinnersWinnersWinnersRunners-upQuarter-Finalist
Results in international competition
Note: Benfica score is always listed first. H = home ground; A = away
Season Competition Round Opponent Score2003–04UEFA Futsal Cup1st Qualification Round Group 8 Kaskada Gračanica 11–0 Athina 90 12–0 CD Shop Mozart Danilovgrad 4–22nd Qualification Round Group B Prato Calcio a 5 5–2 MNK Split 7–0 Action 21 Charleroi 5–4Final Boomerang Interviú 1–4 (A)4–3 (H)2005Intercontinental Futsal CupQualification Round Group B Fire Fox Tokyo 11–0 Boomerang Interviú 1–8 Third place match Carlos Barbosa 0–42005–06UEFA Futsal Cup1st Qualification Round Group 3 Tal-Grig Yerevan 3–2 Ararat Nicosia 5–0 Aramis Futsal Club 8–02nd Qualification Round Group A Kairat Almaty 3–3 PB Morlanwelz 1–1 Boomerang Interviú 2–42006–07European Futsal Cup Winners CupQualification Round Group A Spartak Shelkovo 3–3 Azkar Lugo 8–5Final Lobelle de Santiago 3–52007Intercontinental Futsal CupQualification Round Group A Nagoya Oceans 5–0 Carlos Barbosa 6–1 Boomerang Interviú 2–3 Semi-final Malwee/Jaraguá 2–6 Third place match Sporting CP 2–42007–08UEFA Futsal CupElite Round Group B Luparense 2–2 Dinamo Moskva 4–8 Municipium Pljevlja 7–32008–09Main Round Group 1 KMN Gorica 2–1 Athina 90 8–0 KMF Municipium Pljevlja 6–1Elite Round Group D Hapoel Ironi R.L. 8–1 Ekonomac Kragujevac 8–1 Boomerang Interviú 1–22009–10Main Round Group 4 Montenegro Stars Budva 15–1 Viten Orsha 7–1 KMN Puntar 4–2Elite Round Group 2 FC Marlène 4–0 MNK Potpican '98 8–1 Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg 2–2 Semi-final Luparense 8–4Final Interviú 3–22011Intercontinental Futsal CupLeague Carlos Barbosa 3–4 Interviú 2–4 Bank Rbak 8–12010–11UEFA Futsal Champions LeagueElite Round Group A Ekonomac Kragujevac 5–2 Nacional Zagreb 1–0 Time Lviv 2–1 Semi-final Montesilvano 0–3 Third place match Kairat 3–3(3–5 )2012–13Elite Round Group D Győri ETO FC 3–3 Luparense 3–2 Iberia Star 4–72015–16Main Round Group 2 MNK Centar Sarajevo 8–2 FC Grand Pro Varna 9–2 KMN Dobovec 6–1Elite Round Group D Ekonomac Kragujevac 3–0 Slov-Matic Bratislava 4–5 Lokomotiv Kharkiv 2–0 Semi-final Ugra 4–4 ()(2–3 ) Third place match Pescara 2–22–0 ()2018–19Main Round Group 1 Halle-Gooik 5–3 Barcelona 1–1 Kremlin-Bicêtre United 9–1Elite Round Group C MNK Novo Vrijeme 5–0 MFK Sibiryak 4–2 Sporting CP 1–12019–20Main Round Group 2 Halle-Gooik 6–2 Araz Naxçivan 7–0 Prodexim Kherson 1–1Elite Round Group C Pesaro 1–5 ElPozo 2–4 Kairat 5–32020–21 Round of 32 Minerva 5–1 Round of 16 MVFC Berettyóújfalu 5–0Quarter-finals Kairat 2–6 ()2021–22Main Round Group 1 Halle-Gooik 2–1 Sinara Yekaterinburg 5–1 Lučenec 10–1Elite Round Group D Haladás 8–3 Uragan 4–0 Levante 3–2 Semi-finals Barcelona 4–5 () Third place match ACCS 5–22022–23Main Round Group 4 Haladás 3–1 Uragan 4–1 United Galați 8–1Elite Round Group C FK Chrudim 3–3 Luxol St Andrews 6–0 Kairat 2–1 Semi-finals Palma Futsal 3–4 Third place match Anderlecht 4–32023–24Main Round Group 4 Étoile Lavalloise 2–2 United Galați 12–0 FK Dobovec 8–1Elite Round Group B Dobovec 4–3 Kairat 3–2 Prishtina 01 10–1 Semi-finals Palma Futsal 4–4 ()(3–4 ) Third place match Sporting CP 6–32025–26Main Round – Path A Group 3 Loznica 9–0 Riga FC 6–1 Luxol St. Andrews 6–1 R16 Araz Naxçivan 9–0 (A)4–2 (H) QF Sporting 4–3 (H)4–7 (A)
Players Current squad
First-team staff Head coach: Cassiano Klein Assistant coach: Estevão Cordovil Goalkeeping coach: Vítor Hugo Fitness coach: Raphael Martins Analyst coach: André Chaveiro Coordinator: Raúl Moreira Team manager: Gonçalo Alves
Honours
Domestic competitions Liga Portuguesa Winners (10): 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2018–19, 2024–25,A reviravolta da glória: Benfica dá a volta e sagra-se campeão nacional A Bola (in Portuguese) 2025-26 Taça de Portugal Winners (9): 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2022–23,Futsal: Benfica bate Sporting e conquista Taça de Portugal pela oitava vez Público (in Portuguese) 2025-26 Taça da Liga Winners (5): 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23Benfica conquista Taça da Liga e iguala Sporting no palmarés Público (in Portuguese), 2025-26 Supertaça de Portugal Winners (9): 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2023Benfica ganha Supertaça de futsal com reviravolta 'épica' sobre o Sporting Açoriano Oriental (in Portuguese)
International competitions UEFA Futsal Champions League Winners (1): 2009–10
Women's team Current squad
First-team staff Head Coach: Paulo Roxo Assistant Coach: Fábio Jerónimo Goalkeeping Coach: Alexandre Rodrigues Analyst Coach: Pedro Canelas Coordinator: Raúl Moreira Team Manager: Rita Martins
Women's honours
Regional competitions Lisbon Championship Winners (5): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10 Lisbon Honour Cup Winners (10): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15 Taça de Honra AF Lisboa Winners: 2016
National competitions Portuguese League Winners (8) – record: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23,Benfica é hexacampeão de futsal feminino MaisFutebol (in Portuguese) 2023–24, 2025-26 Portuguese Cup