Happy birthday, captain!

Luisão brings the eagle emblem on his chest since 2003, year in which he closed his history at Cruzeiro. Today, the captain of Benfica is to be congratulated for his 37th birthday!

Six times Portuguese champion – record to which he adds successes in all the other domestic competitions, in an increasingly filled curriculum –, the centre-back born in Amparo, in Brazil, is the oldest member of Benfica's squad– made his debut on September 14th, 2003, in the clash with Belenenses.

He has already surpassed the historic milestone of 500 games for the Four-time Champions – he reached that number on February 14th, 2017, against Borussia Dortmund, in a Champions League match, at Estádio da Luz. Since that day he already played an additional 36 matches for the reds.

This five hundred matches prompted a heartfelt tribute from the president Luís Filipe Vieira, with whom he has been trailing a common history in the club and a history filled with successes: 6 Championships, 3 Portuguese Cups, 4 Super Cups and 7 League Cups.

The most titled member of the squad (with 20 trophies), the captain has already surpassed Coluna (518 matches) and moved to the third position of the list of players with the most appearances for the reds, having now Veloso (535) and Nené (578) on sight.

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica