Jonas unparalleled at Benfica for 45 years

With the two goals scored against Paços de Ferreira, last Saturday, at Estádio Capital do Móvel, Jonas matched the record achieved by Eusébio at Benfica 45 years ago: 27 strikes after Gameweek 24 of the National Championship. 

The numbers are more and more impressive! At Benfica since the 2014/15 season, Jonas made his debut doing what he likes the most – scoring goals – on October 5, 2014, against (4-0), at Estádio da Luz. Since then he has been always adding goals to his tally… After surpassing the mark of 100 goals, and in his fourth season at the Club, he is already Benfica's second-best foreign goal scorer ever.

With an eagle on his chest, the Brazilian forward has scored 115 goals in total – in all the competitions- so far and, last Saturday, with the brace against Paços de Ferreira, he matched a mark with 45 years.

After Gameweek 24 of the Liga NOS, Jonas has the impressive record of 27 goals, and we have to go back to 1972/73 to find the last player who made it wearing the Sacred Mantle: Eusébio da Silva Ferreira.

At the time, Sport Lisboa e Benfica was National Champion and the Black Panther finished the competition as the top scorer, with 40 goals scored, contributing for the Glorioso impressive total of 101 goals in the competition.

Returning to 2017/18, looking at Jonas' journey, and making a perspective based on the numbers, the Brazilian goal scorer just has to maintain the average to easily finish the League with 38 goals scored…

And there is another record that is likely to be achieved very soon! With 92 goals in the Championship with an eagle on his chest, Jonas is just eight goals shy of reaching the goal 100 in the competition!

From Eusébio to Jonas, that is to say, looking at 45 years of history, we only find three other names the come close to this unique mark of 27 goals after 24 rounds.

The Swedish Mats Magnusson scored 26 goals, in the 1989/90 season where he scored 33 in total. A decade before, (1979/80) Nené is the name to remember. The Portuguese international achieved a total of 30 goals, with 25 goals scored after round 24. To round things up, Rui Jordão, in the 1975/76 season scored 30 goals, however, after Game week 24, he had scored 24.

TOP 5 AFTER GAMEWEEK 24 OF THE 1ST DIVISION

Text: Sónia Antunes

Pics: SL Benfica