🌎 The Club World Cup guide to...Benfica | OneFootball

Our guide to all 32 clubs participating at the FIFA Club World Cup continues.

You can check out the full list so far here.

Today we're looking at...Benfica.

How did they qualify for the Club World Cup?

📸 LLUIS GENE - AFP or licensors

Benfica booked their place in the expanded tournament thanks to an impressive run of results in the Champions League over the past four years. The Lisbon giants reached two consecutive quarter-finals in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

History at the Club World Cup

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Benfica have never played in a Club World Cup but did participate in its predecessor, the Intercontinental Cup, back in 1961 and 1962. They lost both those games against the respective South American champions, Santos and Penarol.

How did they perform in the 2024/25 season?

Bruno Lage's side were winners of the Taca de Liga in January, beating Sporting on penalties. But that's been their only piece of silverware of the season with the Lisbon giants finishing second in the league and being beaten in the final of the Taca de Portugal.

Who is the coach?

📸 MIGUEL RIOPA - AFP or licensors

Benfica are managed by Bruno Lage, who returned to the club in September 2024 after a previous tenure from 2019 to 2020.

Who is their star player

Benfica's standout player is Vangelis Pavlidis, a Greek striker who joined the club in July 2024. Pavlidis scored 29 goals last season, including a hat-trick in the 4–1 away win over Porto, making him the club's top scorer.

Expected performance at the Club World Cup

It seems likely that Benfica will be battling it out with Boca Juniors for second in their group behind German giants Bayern Munich.

📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA - AFP or licensors