Champions League: Rafa was the Player of the Week

The new adidas kits represent a return to the origins  – to the authentic spirit of street football, where Benfica was born and continues to grow, generation after generation. 

Benfica said goodbye to the 2024/25 edition of the Champions League on Tuesday night, March 11. Needing to turn the tie around in Catalonia after a 0-1 draw at Estádio da Luz, the Eagles were beaten 3-1 to end their participation in the competition, which was the debut of a new format, with honor and their heads held high. In the two legs of the Champions League last 16, Barcelona won 4-1 on aggregate.

Rafa made the best of his farewell to the Estádio da Luz in Benfica's 5-0 win over Arouca on matchday 33 of the Liga Betclic and was voted Man of the Match by the fans. The forward scored a brace, with goals at 42' (3-0) and 46' (4-0), and provided an assist, at 77', for Tengstedt to score the last goal of the match. On a special day for Rafa, in the 27th minute, the number on his jersey, the Cathedral paid tribute to the player, and the same happened in the 85th minute when he was substituted.

Rafa, scorer of a goal in Benfica's 2-1 win over Marseille in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals, is among UEFA's nominees for the competition's Player of the Week (you can vote here). Di María, for his goal against the French, is among the candidates for Goal of the Week (you can vote here).