The curtain fell on the 2025-26 Liga Portugal season with a result that will have Benfica supporters scratching their heads for years to come. On May 16, 2026, at Estádio António Coimbra da Mota, José Mourinho’s Benfica side capped off a remarkable, unbeaten league campaign with a 3-1 victory over Estoril. But, in a twist that defies footballing logic, the Eagles finished only third in the league, their dreams of Champions League football dashed despite not losing a single match all season.
It was an electric start on the Portuguese Riviera. Benfica wasted no time asserting their dominance. In just the 7th minute, Andreas Schjelderup’s deflected cross found Richard Ríos, who slotted home to give the visitors an early lead. The Estoril defense, already looking shaky, was punished again just eight minutes later. Ríos delivered a corner, Tomás Araújo rose highest to flick it on, and Alexander Bah was on hand at the back post to double the advantage.
The Eagles were flying, and a minute later, the contest was all but over. Bah and Gianluca Prestianni combined brilliantly down the right, setting up Rafa Silva. With a deft touch, Silva stepped past João Carvalho’s half-hearted challenge and beat Estoril goalkeeper Joel Robles to make it 3-0. The home crowd could only watch as their team’s defensive frailties were exposed yet again.
Estoril, for all their attacking flair this season, simply had no answer in the opening half. Prestianni forced a sharp save from Robles, and Ríos continued to test the Estoril shot-stopper before the break. Benfica’s relentless pressure resumed after halftime, with Rafa’s header being turned away just 15 seconds into the second period.
The game had a poignant subplot, too. Pizzi, the boy from Bragança and a Benfica legend, had announced this would be his final match for the club. When he was replaced by Rafik Guitane, he received a guard of honour from teammates and opponents alike. After the final whistle, tributes poured in from family, friends, and former players on the big screen, celebrating his four Liga titles and his status as Benfica’s top scorer in the 2019/20 campaign. “He was a joy to watch for the Eagles, consistently their best player and instrumental in helping Benfica win 11 titles in six seasons,” read one message.
Estoril, managed by Ian Cathro, have been one of the league’s most entertaining sides, their matches averaging a whopping 3.77 goals. Their attack, led by Yanis Begraoui—who finished third in the league scoring charts with 20 goals, just behind Luis Suarez and Vangelis Pavlidis—was never the issue. But their defense, which conceded 57 goals in 34 games, ultimately left them 10th in the final standings. Peixinho’s late consolation goal in added time did little to change the narrative but offered a glimmer of pride for the home supporters.
For Benfica, the win took them to 80 points after 23 wins and 11 draws—remarkably, not a single defeat. Yet, it wasn’t enough. The league’s unique points race saw Porto crowned champions with 88 points, having secured the title two rounds prior. Sporting, Benfica’s Lisbon rivals, also won their final match 3-0 against Gil Vicente, finishing second on 82 points. Those two draws in the previous rounds, coupled with Sporting’s late surge, proved fatal to Benfica’s hopes of a top-two finish and a coveted UEFA Champions League spot.
“Can you imagine your team playing a 34-round tournament, winning 23 times, losing no matches, and still not even securing a place in the main international competition the following season?” mused one commentator from One Football. It’s a scenario almost unheard of in European football. In fact, only FC Sheriff (2024-25 in Moldova) and Red Star Belgrade (2007-08 in Serbia) have suffered similar fates this century, completing unbeaten league seasons without lifting the title. For Benfica, it was déjà vu; in 1977-78, they also went unbeaten but lost the league on goal difference to Porto.
The disappointment is palpable. Benfica’s third-place finish means they will compete in the UEFA Europa League in 2026-27, a consolation prize for a team that dared to dream bigger. Braga, with 59 points, will take the Conference League spot, while Famalicão’s European fate hinges on the outcome of the Portuguese Cup final.
Attention now turns to the summer, where Benfica’s transfer activity will be closely watched. Replacing veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi is the main priority, and questions linger over the futures of Georgiy Sudakov and Franjo Ivanović, who have yet to live up to their hefty transfer fees. The club’s hierarchy faces a crucial window as they look to build on this season’s foundation and return to the summit of Portuguese football.
But the biggest story swirling around the Estádio da Luz is the uncertain future of José Mourinho. The 63-year-old tactician, who joined Benfica last September on a two-year deal, is now the favorite to return to Real Madrid, 13 years after his first spell at the Bernabéu. After the match, Mourinho addressed the speculation: “The only thing I have in hand is the offer from Benfica, which I haven't seen, but Jorge Mendes says it's a very good offer. But it's also true that I haven't spoken to anyone from Real Madrid. But nobody's stupid, and obviously, between Real and Jorge, I think there have been contacts that could turn into contacts with me during the next week. Then I should decide my future.”
With Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reportedly keen to bring Mourinho back to Spain, the coming days promise to be decisive. Benfica fans will be watching anxiously, knowing that a managerial change could bring both fresh hope and fresh uncertainty.
As the dust settles on a season that defied logic, Benfica’s supporters are left to ponder what might have been. Unbeaten, yet unfulfilled, the Eagles must regroup and look ahead. The summer promises change, and with it, a new chapter in the storied history of one of Portugal’s greatest clubs.