Benfica

On 28 February 1904, after a football training session that day, the Catataus Group and members of Associação do Bem met at Farmácia Franco on Rua Direita de Belém with the goal of forming a social and cultural football club called Sport Lisboa, composed of Portuguese players only. Twenty-four people attended the meeting, including Cosme Damião, who would later become a central figure in the club’s development as player, captain, coach, and director. In that meeting, José Rosa Rodrigues was appointed club president, with Daniel dos Santos Brito as secretary and Manuel Gourlade as treasurer. The founders decided that the club's colours would be red and white and that the crest would be composed of an eagle, the motto "E pluribus unum" and a football.

Sport Lisboa played their first ever match on 1 January 1905, scoring their first goal. Despite important victories, such as the ones against Carcavelos and then-rivals Internacional, the club suffered from poor operating conditions, namely the football dirt field of Terras do Desembargador. As a result, eight players moved to Sporting CP in May 1907, threatening Sport Lisboa's existence, and later starting the rivalry between the two clubs.

On 13 September 1908, Sport Lisboa merged with Grupo Sport Benfica and changed its name to Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Despite the merger, they continued their respective club operations. For Sport Lisboa, they maintained the football team, the shirt colours, the eagle symbol and the motto. For Grupo Sport Benfica, they maintained the field Campo da Feiteira, the main directors and the club's house. Both clubs determined that the foundation date should coincide with Sport Lisboa's because it was the most recognized club and quite popular in Lisbon due to its football merits. In regard to the crest, a bicycle wheel was added to Sport Lisboa's to represent cycling, the most important sport of Grupo Sport Benfica. Furthermore, the two entities of the newly named club had simultaneous members who helped stabilize operations, which later increased the success of the merger.

During the 1910s, Benfica established itself as a leading club in Lisbon. The team won its first Campeonato de Lisboa in 1909–10 and went on to claim six further titles in the decade (1911–12, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1917–18), marking the club’s first period of dominance. At the time, this competition was the most prestigious in Portugal, and Benfica’s successes helped solidify its popularity.

After playing at Campo da Feiteira, Benfica moved to their first grass pitch, Campo de Sete Rios, in 1913, but relocated again in 1917 to Campo de Benfica after a rent increase. Off the field, the club expanded into other sports, establishing its roller hockey department, which would later become one of its most successful sections.

The 1920s marked Benfica’s consolidation as a major club in Portuguese sport. The club moved to its first owned stadium, Estádio das Amoreiras, in 1925, giving it stability and higher visibility. During this period, Benfica won one Campeonato de Lisboa (1920-21) and also began competing in the Campeonato de Portugal, a national knockout tournament that would later evolve into the Taça de Portugal.

Notable players of the era included Ribeiro dos Reis, Raul Figueiredo, and Alberto Augusto.

This decade also saw the creation of the basketball section in 1927, reinforcing Benfica’s development as a multi-sport institution.

Benfica opened the decade with consecutive victories in the 1929–30 and 1930–31 Campeonato de Portugal, the club’s first national-level trophies, and later added the 1932–33 Campeonato de Lisboa.

The Portuguese league began in 1934. Benfica finished third in its inaugural edition but won the 1934–35 Campeonato de Portugal and quickly rose to prominence under Hungarian coach Lippo Hertzka, claiming three consecutive league titles (1935–36, '36–37, '37–38) – the club’s first tricampeonato, marking the club's second period of dominance. In 1938–39 Benfica came close to winning a fourth successive title, but a 3–3 draw against rivals Porto on the final matchday handed the championship to their rivals. The club also finished as runners-up in the 1939 edition of Taça de Portugal, ending the decade with three league titles, two national cups, and one regional championship.

During this period, Vítor Silva emerged as Benfica’s first star player and the first club paid transfer. Other key figures included Rogério de Sousa, Gustavo Teixeira, and Albino. Towards the end of the decade, players such as Gaspar Pinto, Valadas, Espírito Santo, and Francisco Rodrigues began to make their mark, forming the backbone of the team in the years to come.

Outside football, Benfica founded its volleyball and handball departments.

After fifteen years at Estádio das Amoreiras, Benfica moved to the Estádio do Campo Grande in 1940. Under coach János Biri, the club began its third period of success, winning the 1939–40 Campeonato de Lisboa and Taça de Portugal, along with three league championships (1941–42, '42–43, '44–45), and two more Taças de Portugal ('43, '44). In 1943, Benfica achieved its first double (dobradinha).

Later in the decade, Benfica added another Taça de Portugal in 1948–49 but missed out on several league titles, including the 1945–46 championship, which went to Belenenses on the final matchday, and three consecutive seasons to Sporting. Overall, Benfica closed the decade with three league titles and three Portuguese cups. Prominent players included Jacinto Marques, Félix Antunes, Julinho, Rogério Pipi, and Arsénio.

Beyond football, Benfica achieved its first major honours in basketball, winning three league championships (1939–40, 1945–46, 1946–47) and two Taça de Portugal (1945–46, 1946–47).

Benfica began the 1950s by ending a three-year title drought, winning the 1949–50 league under English coach Ted Smith. In the same year, the club achieved its first international triumph by claiming the Latin Cup, defeating Bordeaux 2–1 after extra time, with a golden goal from Julinho, at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon. This marked the first international trophy won by a Portuguese club. The early part of the decade also brought three consecutive Taça de Portugal victories (1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53), which along the 1948-49 edition made Benfica first and only club to win four cups in a row (the 1949-50 was not held). In 1952, Joaquim Ferreira Bogalho was elected president, and two years later Otto Glória was appointed coach. Glória modernized the club with more professional structures and training methods, coinciding with the move to the original Estádio da Luz, which opened in 1954 with a capacity of 40,000 spectators; expanded to 70,000 in 1960.

Under Glória, Benfica won the league in 1954–55 and 1956–57, completing doubles in both seasons, and narrowly missed another title in 1955–56, finishing level on points with Porto but second on goal difference. The club reached another Latin Cup final in 1957, losing to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. In the same year, Maurício Vieira de Brito succeeded Bogalho as president, paving the way to the clubs golden era.

Despite being Portuguese champions in 1955, Benfica were not invited to the inaugural inaugural European Cup, making their continental debut in 1957–58 against Sevilla. They reached the Taça de Portugal final that season, and in 1958–59 finished league runners-up to Porto again on points with Porto, with a worst goal difference, but won the cup against the same opponents.

In total, Benfica’s football team won three league titles (1949–50, '54–55, '56–57), six Taça de Portugal (1951, '52, '53, '55, '57, '59), and one Latin Cup in the 1950s. Important players of the decade included José Bastos, Fernando Caiado, Francisco Calado, Francisco Palmeiro, Mário Coluna and José Águas. The club also achieved its first major honours in roller hockey, winning four league championships (1950–51, '51–52, '55–56, '56–57).

In 1959, president Maurício Vieira de Brito appointed Hungarian coach Béla Guttmann, who guided Benfica to the 1959–60 Primeira Divisão title, the club’s tenth league championship, and qualification for the European Cup for the first time. The following season, Benfica retained the league title and reached their first European Cup final, defeating Barcelona 3–2 in Bern to secure a historic continental double. In the domestic cup, Benfica were controversially eliminated by Vitória de Setúbal: the second leg of the tie was scheduled on the eve of the European Cup final, forcing Benfica to field reserves. Despite losing 4-1, the match marked Eusébio’s debut, in which he scored his first goal for the club. Following the season, Benfica participated in the invitational Tournoi de Paris final against Pelé's Santos, losing 6–3 but with Eusébio scoring a hat-trick.

In 1961–62, Benfica attempted to defend their league and European titles while also competing for the Intercontinental Cup and the Taça de Portugal. The club finished third in the league and lost the Intercontinental final to Peñarol, but triumphed in both cup competitions: beat Setúbal in the domestic final and overcame Real Madrid 5–3 in Amsterdam to win its second consecutive European Cup, in one of the most memorable finals in the competition’s history.

After failing to reach an agreement with the board, Guttmann departed and was replaced by Chilean coach Fernando Riera, who led Benfica to another league title and a third straight European Cup final, losing 2–1 to AC Milan. Riera’s successor, Hungarian Lajos Czeizler, won the league with a club-record 103 goals in 26 matches, adding the Taça de Portugal with a 6–2 victory over Porto. Under Czeizler Benfica also competed in the Trofeo Ramón Carranza, facing Barcelona (1958 and 1960 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners) in the semi-finals winning 3-2, and facing Fiorentina (1961 and 1962 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners) in the final winning 7–3 at extra time.

In 1964-65 under Elek Schwartz Benfica again claimed the league, the second tri in club history, and reached both the Taça de Portugal and European Cup finals, losing to Setúbal and Inter Milan, respectively. Along the way, Benfica produced one of their greatest European performances by defeating Real Madrid 5–1 in the quarter-finals.

Seeking to regain the European Cup, the club rehired Guttmann in 1965, but the move failed to produce silverware, as Benfica were eliminated by Manchester United in the quarter-finals and finished the season without a trophy. Success returned in 1966–67, when Riera’s second spell brought another league championship. The decade closed under Otto Glória, who oversaw three more trophies: the 1967–68 and 1968–69 Primeira Divisão titles and the 1968–69 Taça de Portugal, completing a double and the third tricampeonato in club's history. In Europe, after beating Juventus in the semi-finals (2-0 at home, 1-0 away), Benfica reached its fifth European Cup final in 1968, losing 4–1 to Manchester United after extra time. The following season they faced the emerging Dutch powerhouse Ajax, led by Johan Cryuff, in the quarter-finals, in a match is often described as a symbolic “passing of the torch”. After a 3–1 away victory in Amsterdam was overturned by a 3–1 defeat in Lisbon, the tie went to a playoff in Paris, where Benfica were eliminated 3–0 in extra time.

Therefore, for their international performance, Benfica were ranked first in European football in 1965, '66 and '69, and were presented with the European Team of the Year award in 1968. In the 1960s, Benfica won eight Primeira Liga (1959–60, '60–61, '62–63, '63–64, '64–65, '66–67, '67–68, '68–69), three Taça de Portugal (1962, '64, '69) and two European Cups (1960–61, '61–62). Many of these successes were achieved with Eusébio – the only player to win the Ballon d'Or for a Portuguese club – Coluna, José Águas, José Augusto, Simões, Torres, Germano, Costa Pereira, Cavém, and many others, who contributed to the best decade in club history.

In indoor sports, the 1960s were also highly successful for Benfica. The basketball team won five consecutive national league titles (1960–61, '61–62, '62–63, '63–64, '64–65) and six Taça de Portugal (1960–61, '63–64, '64–65, '65–66, '67–68, '68–69). In roller hockey, Benfica secured five league championships (1959–60, '60–61, '65–66, '66–67, '67–68), one Taça de Portugal (1962–63), and the 1962 Nations Cup. The club also added the 1961–62 national handball league and the 1965–66 Taça de Portugal in volleyball.

In 1969, Borges Coutinho became Benfica’s president. After an unsuccessful season, he appointed English manager Jimmy Hagan for 1970–71 season. Known for his intense training methods, Hagan began his tenure leading Benfica to the league title and the Taça de Portugal final in his first year. The following season, started by competing in the Trofeo Ramón Carranza against Valência (Spanish champion), Atlético Madrid and Peñarol (four time Libertadores winner), winning the trophy for a second time. The club retained the league and captured its fifteenth domestic cup, defeating Porto 6–0 in the semi-finals and Sporting 3–2 after extra time in the final. In Europe, Benfica eliminated Feyenoord 5–1 in Lisbon before falling to reigning European champions Ajax in the semi-finals. Hagan’s third season produced one of the best campaigns in club history: Benfica completed their third tricampeonato, winning its twenty league title, finishing the league unbeaten with 28 wins and 2 draws in 30 matches, including 23 consecutive victories. The team scored 101 goals, and Eusébio won the Europe's top scorer, two goals short of his record 42. During this period, young players such as Nené, Shéu, and Bento became key members of the squad.

Aiming for a fourth consecutive league title, the club entered a turbulent 1973–74 season. Hagan resigned after disagreements with Borges Coutinho, who promoted Fernando Cabrita to manager. Despite winning both league matches against Sporting, Benfica finished as runners-up in both the league and the cup to their Lisbon rivals.

In 1974, Milorad Pavić was appointed manager. He guided Benfica to the league title and the Taça de Portugal final, while in Europe the club reached the Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals, after drawing in Eindhoven with PSV a 2-1 loss at home knocked out Benfica. That season marked the departures of Eusébio, António Simões, and Jaime Graça, closing an era. Under Mário Wilson, Benfica retained the league in 1975–76 and reached the European Cup quarter-finals, losing to Bayern Munich. His successor John Mortimore continued the domestic dominance, retaining the title in 1976–77 and completing the club’s fifth tricampeonato. In 1977–78 Benfica finished unbeaten in the league, level on points with Porto, but lost the title on goal average. Between October 1976 and September 1978, Benfica went 56 league matches unbeaten.

The club ended the decade without silverware in 1978–79, finishing the 1970s with six Primeira Divisão titles (1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77) and two Taça de Portugal trophies (1970, 1972). In 1979, Benfica admitted foreign players into the squad for the first time, becoming the last major Portuguese club to do so.

Besides the remaining stars of the 1960s, the decade was marked by important figures such as Artur Jorge, Jordão, Nené, Shéu, Chalana, Humberto Coelho, Bento, José Henrique, Toni, and Vítor Baptista.

Although not as dominant as in the 1960s, Benfica remained successful across indoor sports. In basketball, the club won two national leagues (1969–70, '74–75) and four Taça de Portugal (1969–70, '71–72, '72–73, '73–74). In roller hockey, Benfica claimed four league titles (1969–70, '71–72, '73–74, '78–79) and two Taça de Portugal (1977–78, '78–79). In handball, the club secured the 1974–75 national league, while in volleyball it added fiveTaça de Portugal (1973–74, '74–75, '75–76, '77–78, '78–79).

Benfica started the decade by winning the 1979–80 Taça de Portugal against rivals Porto. In the following season, under Hungarian coach Lajos Baróti, the club ended a three-year league drought – the first time that had happened since 1954 – and made history by becoming the first Portuguese team to win every domestic trophy in a single season: the 1980 Supertaça, the league, and another Taça de Portugal triumph over Porto (3–1). In Europe, Benfica knocked out the Allofs brothers’ Fortuna Düsseldorf in the quarter-finals and reached the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals.

After a trophyless 1981–82, president Fernando Martins appointed Sven-Göran Eriksson as head coach. In his debut season, Eriksson led Benfica to the league title and a Taça de Portugal victory against Porto (1–0) on their own ground at Antas. In Europe, Benfica eliminated Falcão’s Roma with a 2–1 away win and reached their sixth European final, the UEFA Cup, against Anderlecht. A 1–0 defeat in Brussels followed by a 1–1 draw at home left Benfica short of silverware. The following season, the club retained the league, won the second edition of the Iberian Cup, and reached the European Cup quarter-finals, losing to eventual winners Liverpool. At the end of the season, Chalana, Strömberg, and Eriksson all departed.

Benfica opened the stadium's third tier in 1985, transforming it into the largest stadium in Europe and third largest in the world. But with all the departures Benfica struggled in the league, missing out on the 1984-85 and 1985-86 leagues but still winning the 1985 Supertaça, and both years Taça de Portugal, the first against Porto (3-1) and the second against Belenenses, reaching twenty Taça de Portugal. After two years without a league title Benfica regained the league while also winning its third consecutive Taça de Portugal beating Sporting 2–1 in the final, clinching its ninth double.

The 1987–88 season marked Benfica’s return to a European Cup final, their first in twenty years, under coach Toni. Against PSV Eindhoven, the final was decided by penalties, with Benfica losing 6–5. The following year the team bounced back by winning the 1988–89 league title and reaching the Taça de Portugal final, qualifying for next year's European Cup.

Alongside the remaining stars of the 1970s, the decade was sharped by players such as Filipovic, Diamantino, Rui Águas, Magnusson, Michael Manniche, Carlos Manuel, João Alves, Mozer, Ricardo Gomes, Valdo, César Brito, Veloso and many others, who helped the club win five Primeira Divisão (1980-81, '82-83, '83-84, '86-87, '88-89), six Taça's de Portugal (1979-80, '80-81, '82-83, '84-85, '85-86, '86-87), two Supertaça (1980 and 1985), one Iberian Cup (1983), the 1982-83 UEFA Cup final and the 1987-88 European Cup final.

Beyond football, Benfica remained competitive in indoor sports. In roller hockey, the club won two league titles (1979–80, '80–81) and three Taça de Portugal (1979–80, '80–81, '81–82). In basketball, Benfica claimed four national leagues (1984–85, '85–86, '86–87, '88–89), one Taça de Portugal (1980–81), and two Supertaça (1985, '89). In handball, the club secured three national leagues (1981–82, '82–83, '88–89), three Taça de Portugal (1984–85, '85–86, '86–87), and one Supertaça (1989). In volleyball, Benfica added the 1980–81 league title.

The 1989–90 seasom marked the return of Sven-Göran Eriksson. Benfica began by winning the 1989 Supertaça and reached their seventh European Cup final, eliminating heavy favorites Marseille in the semi-finals. In the final, they faced Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan, losing narrowly 1–0. The following season, under Eriksson’s guidance, Benfica captured another league title after a hard-fought campaign, sealed by a decisive 2–0 away win against Porto. It remains one of the best domestic campaigns in the club’s history, with 32 wins, 5 draws, just 1 loss, and only 18 goals conceded. In 1991–92, Benfica claimed no domestic silverware but impressed in Europe, knocking out English champions Arsenal at Highbury (3–1) and reaching the European group stage, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Barcelona. At the end of the season, Eriksson, along with Magnusson and Jonas Thern, departed the club.

In 1992–93, long-time member and investor Jorge de Brito became president. After a slow start, Benfica remained competitive on all fronts. To strengthen the team, the club signed Paulo Futre, Portugal’s biggest star at the time. Despite losing the league to Porto after squandering a two-point lead with five games remaining, Benfica triumphed in the Taça de Portugal, defeating Porto (2–0 in a replay after a 1–1 draw) and then Boavista 5–2 in the Jamor final. In Europe, Benfica faced Roberto Baggio and Gianluca Vialli’s Juventus in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, winning the first leg 2–1 in Lisbon but falling 3–0 in Turin. However, years of heavy spending in pursuit of European glory left the club in financial turmoil. In the summer of 1993, during the so-called Verão Quente (“Hot Summer”), Paulo Sousa and Pacheco unilaterally terminated their contracts and joined Sporting. João Vieira Pinto also nearly defected but was convinced by Brito to stay. With a squad weakened by controversy and instability, Benfica began the season as underdogs. Yet, under coach Toni, the team rallied to win their 30th league title, highlighted by a legendary 6–3 victory over Sporting in Alvalade. In Europe, Benfica knocked out Bayer Leverkusen in a 4–4 thriller in Germany but were eliminated in the Cup Winner's Cup semi-finals by Parma (2–1 at home, 0–1 away).

Mid-season, Jorge de Brito resigned and Manuel Damásio became president. This transition marked the beginning of the darkest period in the club’s history: Benfica would go eleven years without winning the league and eight without any major trophy. In the summer of 1994, financial struggles forced the sale of key players Schwarz and Rui Costa, while 11 of the 25-man title-winning squad departed. Damásio dismissed Toni and appointed former Benfica player Artur Jorge, then regarded as Portugal’s top coach, who argued that the squad was too old and needed restructuring. Domestically, the 1994–95 season was a failure, but in the Champions League Benfica topped a group that included Anderlecht, Steaua Bucharest, and Hajduk Split, advancing unbeaten to the quarter-finals. There, they once again faced AC Milan and were eliminated. The following season, Benfica won the Taça de Portugal, defeating Sporting 3–1 in the final – their last final meeting with their Lisbon rivals for the next 29 years. However, the rest of the decade proved disastrous. Across the 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 seasons, Benfica failed to claim a single trophy, only reaching one Taça de Portugal final. Rampant spending and poor recruitment – over 100 signings under Damásio’s presidency – worsened the financial crisis. By the late 1990s, João Vale e Azevedo had taken over as president, but his tenure also produced no trophies and further instability.

Some of the stars of this decade included João Vieira Pinto, Vítor Paneira, Paulo Futre, Isaías, and many others, who helped winning two Primeira Divisão (1990-91 and 1993-94), two Taça de Portugal (1992-93 and 1995-96) and reaching the 1989-90 European Cup final.

While football endured one of its worst eras, indoor sports continued to bring glory. The roller hockey team won five league titles (1991–92, '93–94, '94–95, '96–97, '97–98), three Taça de Portugal (1990–91, '93–94, '94–95), three Supertaça (1993, '95, '97), and the 1990–91 WSE Cup. The basketball team with star player Carlos Lisboa dominated domestically, securing six league titles (1989–90 to 1994–95), five Taça de Portugal (1991–92 to 1995–96), six Taça da Liga (1989–90, '90–91, 1992–93, '93–94, '94–95, '95–96), and five Supertaça (1991, '94, '95, '96, '98). They also impressed in Europe, defeating CSKA Moscow, Panathinaikos, and Real Madrid, and reaching the European Cup Top 16 for three consecutive seasons. In handball, Benfica won the 1989–90 league and the 1993 Supertaça, though the section was closed in 1997–98 before returning the following season. Volleyball also added the 1990–91 league, two Taça de Portugal (1989–90, '91–92), and the 1990 Supertaça, but the section was closed in 1993–94 and only reactivated in 1996–97.

The decade began in disastrous fashion, as Benfica not only went trophyless but also suffered their heaviest ever European defeat, a 7–0 to Celta de Vigo in the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup. During the latter part of that season, Manuel Vilarinho was elected president, and shortly afterwards the club’s members approved the construction of a new Estádio da Luz. Under his tenure, Benfica endured their lowest-ever league finish (sixth place in 2000–01) and missed out on European competition in 2001–02 and 2002–03 – the first absence since 1958–59.

The arrival of António Camacho helped bring some stability after a turbulent period that had seen eleven different coaches between 1994 and 2003. In 2003–04, under newly elected president Luís Filipe Vieira and with Camacho as manager, Benfica ended their longest trophy drought by winning the Taça de Portugal, defeating José Mourinho’s Porto 2–1 after extra time. That same season, on 25 October 2003, the new Estádio da Luz officially opened. Camacho’s success attracted attention abroad, and he departed at the end of the campaign to take charge of Real Madrid during the Galácticos era. In 2004–05, Giovanni Trapattoni was appointed head coach and guided Benfica to their first league title since 1994, ending an eleven-year wait. The club also reached the Taça de Portugal final but fell short against Vitória de Setúbal. However, Benfica avenged that defeat a few months later by beating Setúbal 1–0 in the Supertaça. The following season, under Ronald Koeman, the team was inconsistent domestically but excelled in the Champions League: after eliminating Manchester United in the group stage with a 2–1 win at home, they shocked defending champions Liverpool (1–0 in Lisbon and 2–0 at Anfield) before falling in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Barcelona, led by Ronaldinho.

The remainder of the decade brought little domestic success, with Benfica claiming only the 2008–09 Taça da Liga – beating Sporting on penalties – thus becoming the first Portuguese club to win every major domestic competition.

The decade was marked by important players such as Luisão, Simão, Nuno Gomes, Mantorras, Petit, Ricardo Rocha, and Miccoli, who helped the club win the 2004-05 Primeira Liga, 2003-04 Taça de Portugal, 2008-09 Taça da Liga and the 2005 Supertaça.

In indoor sports, the 2000s brought mixed results. Roller hockey and basketball endured their least successful modern periods: roller hockey managed only three Taça de Portugal (1999–2000, '00–01, '01–02) and two Supertaça (2001, '02), while basketball won a single league title (2008–09) and one Supertaça (2009). In handball, Benfica secured one league title (2007–08) and two Taça da Liga (2006–07, '08–09). Volleyball began a resurgence, winning the 2004–05 league and three Taça de Portugal (2004–05, '05–06, '06–07), paving the way for future dominance. The brightest story came from the newly established futsal section, which quickly became one of the club’s strongest departments. Led by future legends such as Ricardinho, André Lima, and César Paulo, Benfica won five league titles (2002–03, '04–05, '06–07, '07–08, '08–09), four Taça de Portugal (2002–03, '04–05, '06–07, '08–09), and four Supertaça (2003, '06, '07, '09). They also reached the UEFA Futsal Cup final in 2004–05.

In 2009–10, Jorge Jesus was appointed coach, a position he held until 2015. In his debut season, Benfica won the league after a four-year wait and lifted the Taça da Liga, beating Sporting 4–1 in the semi-finals at Alvalade and Porto 3–0 in the final at the Estádio do Algarve. What followed were three difficult seasons. Benfica only added two more Taça's da Liga (2010–11, 2011–12), while in Europe they reached the 2010–11 Europa League semi-finals, their first European semi-final in 17 years, and the 2011-12 Champions League quarter-finals, losing to Braga and Chelsea respectively. In 2012-13, Benfica lost all three main objectives: the league in the penultimate round after leading most league unbeaten, the Europa League final against Chelsea (2–1), and the Taça de Portugal final. The results in 2013–14 were historic. Benfica claimed all three domestic trophies (league, cup and league cup), achieving an unprecedented treble in Portuguese football, and their first league and cup double since 1987. The season featured memorable matches with Porto: a 2–0 league win just days after Eusébio’s passing, a heroic 10-man 3–1 victory in the Taça de Portugal semi-finals (3-1, and 3-2 on aggregate), and an injury plagued penalty shoot-out triumph in the Taça da Liga semi-finals. In Europe, Benfica eliminated Antonio Conte’s Juventus to reach their tenth European final, but fell in a controversial penalty shoot-out to Sevilla. The following year Benfica won the Supertaça on penalties, retained the league and Taça da Liga, marking back-to-back championships for the first time since 1984. By 2015, Benfica were ranked sixth in the UEFA club coefficient due to their strong 2009–2014 cycle.

After six years as coach Jesus departed for Sporting, and Rui Vitória took over. Despite a poor start, losing the Supertaça, first league and Taça de Portugal duels to Sporting, Benfica overturned a seven-point deficit to win the league and Taça da Liga, achieving their sixth tricampeonato and the first since the 1970s. The club also impressed in Europe, defeating Atlético Madrid 2–1 away and pushing Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich close in the Champions League quarter-finals. In 2016–17, Benfica extended its dominance by winning the Supertaça, league, and Taça de Portugal, completing its first-ever tetratetra and 11th domestic double. In Europe once more Benfica advanced the group stage, but after a first leg home win, fell in Germany against Borussia Dortmund. However, the following season the squad was weakened after a disappointing transfer window, and the club only claimed the 2017 Supertaça. The Champions League campaign was disastrous, including a 5–0 loss to Basel and the worst group-stage record ever for a Portuguese side.

In 2018–19, Bruno Lage replaced Rui Vitória mid-season and revitalized the team, guiding Benfica to its 37th league title with a record-breaking second half of the season (18 wins and one draw), including away victories over Porto (2–1) and Sporting (4–2). In Europe, Benfica reached the Europa League quarter-finals but fell to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Overall, the decade brought six league titles, two Taça's de Portugal, six Taça's da Liga, three Supertaça's, and two Europa League finals. Stars of this era included Saviola, Cardozo, Aimar, Luisão, Enzo Pérez, Garay, Matic, Lima, Jonas, Mitroglou, Gaitán, Sálvio, Pizzi, and many others.

Outside football, Benfica shone across indoor sports. The futsal section won three league titles (2011–12, '14–15, '18–19), three Taça de Portugal (2011–12, '14–15, '16–17), two Taça da Liga (2017–18, '18–19), four Supertaça (2011, '12, '15, '16) and their first UEFA Futsal Champions League (2009–10). Basketball brought five league titles (2011–12, '12–13, '13–14, '14–15, '16–17), four Taça de Portugal (2013–14, '14–15, '15–16, '16–17), six Taça da Liga (2010–11, '12–13, '13–14, '14–15, '16–17, '17–18), six Supertaça (2010, '12, '13, '14, '15, '17) and the Supertaça da Lusofonia (2010), the section’s first international trophy. Volleyball experienced the section’s most successful decade since its foundation, with five leagues (2012–13, '13–14, '14–15, '16–17, '18–19), six Taça de Portugal (2010–11, '11–12, '14–15, '15–16, '17–18, '18–19) and eight Supertaça (2011, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '18, '19), while Roller hockey conquered three league titles (2011–12, '14–15, '15–16), two Taça de Portugal (2013–14, '14–15), two Supertaça (2010, '12), a WSE Cup (2010–11), three Continental Cup (2011, '13, '16) and most importantly, two WSE Champions League's (2012–13, '15–16), the highest point in the section’s history. In handball: two Taça de Portugal (2015–16, '17–18) and four Supertaça (2010, '12, '16, '18).

Benfica began the decade beating Sporting 5–0 in the Supertaça, followed by an outstanding first half of the 2019–20 league campaign (18 wins and 1 draw). However, the team collapsed in the second half of the season and finished runner-up in both the league and Taça de Portugal.

In 2020–21, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, former coach Jorge Jesus returned, accompanied by the biggest spending spree in Portuguese football history. The gamble failed: Benfica were eliminated in the Champions League third qualifying round, lost the Supertaça, finished third in the league, and lost a second consecutive Taça de Portugal final. Midway through this troubled period, president Luís Filipe Vieira was arrested, and Rui Costa assumed the presidency. The 2021–22 season, Rui Costa’s first in charge, was disappointing domestically: another third-place league finish, which cost Jesus his job, and a first-ever loss in a Taça da Liga final. Yet in Europe Benfica excelled, finishing second in a Champions League group that included Barcelona (beating them 3–0 at home) and knocking out Ajax in the round of 16 with a Darwin Núñez header in Amsterdam. Benfica fell in the quarter-finals to eventual runners-up Liverpool but managed a memorable 3–3 draw at Anfield.

Under Roger Schmidt, Benfica bounced back in 2022–23, reclaiming the league after three years and reaching a second straight Champions League quarter-final. They topped their group undefeated, defeating Juventus twice and drawing both matches against a star-studded PSG (featuring Messi, Neymar and Mbappé). In the round of 16 after dismantling Club Brugge 7–1 on aggregate, Benfica were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Internazionale (2–0, 3–3). The following season began with another trophy, the 2023 Supertaça against Porto (2-0), but ended without further silverware. In 2024–25, criticism mounted over Schmidt’s leadership, and after four league games he was replaced by Bruno Lage. Under his return, Benfica won the Taça da Liga but finished runner-up in both the league and Taça de Portugal to Sporting. On the continental stage, Benfica adapted well to the new Champions League league format, advancing to the playoffs thanks to wins over Atlético Madrid (4–0), Monaco (3–2), and Juventus (2–0). They were eliminated by Barcelona in the playoffs, but later made history by entering the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup. Benfica topped their group with a historic first official win against Bayern Munich (1–0), a 2–2 draw with Boca Juniors, and a 6–0 victory over Auckland City before losing in extra time to eventual winners Chelsea (4–1).

Still under Lage, Benfica began the 2025–26 season with a Supertaça triumph, defeating Sporting 1–0.