“It's been a brilliant three years”

INTERVIEW

Upon leaving the club, Jéssica Silva, in an interview with BTV, spoke of the “dream come true” of representing Benfica and confessed to being “very happy and very proud” of everything she had experienced with an eagle on her chest.

She arrived in the course of the 2021/22 season, from Kansas City (United States), and since then she has made 76 appearances in the Manto Sagrado, scoring 37 goals.

At the end of a cycle with many trophies won, Jéssica Silva considered it “an honor to be part of Benfica's history”, praised the Club's “very important role” “in the development of women's sport in Portugal”, and left a guarantee: “Wherever I am, I will always be supporting Benfica.”

AN HONOR

"What we've done in these three years is incredible. I'm very happy. It's an honor to be part of Benfica's history, so it's been a brilliant three years that leave me with a smile on my face."

2023/24 SEASON FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS

"On a collective level, we've done what no one else has ever done [winning all domestic trophies in 2023/24: National Championship, Portuguese Cup, League Cup and Super Cup; and the unprecedented quarter-finals of the Champions League]. We've been looking for this for some time. It's epic, it's historic, and no one can erase it. For me, it's really important to leave and have my name in Benfica's history. In the history of the club, that means so much to me and to my family. Regardless of any individual achievement, being able to be part of this page of Benfica soccer - not just women's football - is something that makes me very happy and very proud."

THE CLUB'S ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN'S SPORT

"Benfica plays a very important role in the development of women's sport in Portugal. It's an example, the greatest example I can mention. Not just because I play for the club, but because long before I played for Benfica I already felt it, saw it and followed many Portuguese athletes The truth is that [Benfica] has a lot to smile about and to make women's sport smile, it plays an important role and is in women's sport in a distinctive way. We have to continue to do more and better, to be an example to other clubs. Only in this way will women's sport grow. Thank you, Benfica. Not just for being here, but for everything you're doing for women's sport in Portugal."

CAREER LENGTH AND LIFE GOALS

"It's no secret that I don't think I'll be playing football for much longer. That's why I'm leaving now too. I have other goals in life, other dreams, and I know that my career as a footballer won't be much longer. But I hope this will always be my home. It's always been my home - even if I'm not playing here - and I hope it stays that way."

THANKS TO THE FANS

"I'd like to thank the fans very much for their affection and support, for the successes, for smiling, singing and dancing together. I hope to continue to be part of this house. I have the fans in my heart. Wherever I am, I'll always be supporting Benfica. Now it's time to continue writing history. I'll keep watching that history. I'm going to be a fan, but I'm going to keep celebrating all of Benfica's achievements."