Benfica in the spotlight at the Quinas de Ouro 2023 Gala

Sport Lisboa e Benfica won awards for men's and women's football, women's futsal and coaching at the Quinas de Ouro 2023 Gala, which took place on Monday, November 20, at the Pavilhão do Rio do Centro de Congressos de Lisboa.

During the event organized jointly by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the Professional Players' Union and the National Coaches' Association, Benfica was first honored for winning the 38th men's national title and the women's third national title in a row, in the  2022/23 season. Present at the event, President Rui Costa took to the stage accompanied by Pauleta and Carole Costa, captains of the Inspiradoras, to receive the awards.

"For us, it's a great source of pride to stand on this stage and receive both the men's and women's trophies. These titles are the result of extraordinary work on both sides. On the men's side, I'm receiving the award, but this trophy belongs to Roger Schmidt, all the players and all the fans, who are and always will be the Club's great strength. There's little to say about the women's team. For us, it's been a great source of pride to be part of women's sport and our team has been a great example of success. We're going to work hard to get back here every year", stated the President of Benfica, in his speech.

For his part, Pauleta thanked the club's management for their commitment to women's football: "We're proud to represent Benfica. We managed to win the championship three times and we have to thank the Board for their commitment to women's football. It takes a lot of courage to bet on women in sport and Benfica has that courage. The results are there and we want to do even better."

Still on the women's football side, Benfica's Rute Costa, Carole Costa, Sílvia Rebelo, Ana Seiça, Catarina Amado, Lúcia Alves, Andreia Norton, Francisca Nazareth and Jéssica Silva were also celebrated for their historic participation in the 2023 World Cup with the national women's football team.

The Glorioso also received the Excellence in Youth Development award, along with nine other clubs. The award was received by Pedro Mil-Homens, Benfica's Youth Footbal general-director.

Products of Benfica Campus, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias were honored for Manchester City's victory in the Champions League. João Neves, another player nurtured at Seixal, was honored for his first international cap for the Senior National Team A, which came in the 0-5 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 16, 2023.

Carlos Monteiro, Edmilson Sá (both in men's futsal), Inês Matos (women's futsal) and Ana Seiça (women's football futebol) also received an award for making their debut in their respective national teams this calendar year.

Coach of the team that became six-time national champion in 2022/23, Alex Pinto praised the Benfica women's futsal team's hunger to win: "I'm doubly proud and honored. Proud to receive this trophy, but above all honored to represent a six-time champion team that teaches me every day that ambition has no limits. My great tribute to the players, the coaching staff, the management and all the Benfica fans, who make us feel at home in any pavilion."

At the event, there was also time to pay tribute to the unprecedented U19 European Futsal Championship title, to which Benfica's Lúcio Rocha (captain, top scorer and best player in the competition), Pedro Marques, Diogo Carrera, Afonso Serra and Tomás Colaço contributed.