Luisão: example of determination with attraction for the goal

Luisão is an example of determination, of Mystic, of someone who wears the "Sacred Mantle" with pride and respect! On top of all that, Luisão is also an example regarding goals. Despite having already scored 46 goals playing for the eagles – he has been scoring for 14 years in a row – the captain  recently revealed, in an interview with Benfica's media and Expresso, that he was fascinated by the art of defending... We wonder: for a centre-back, how it would be like if he was fascinated by the art of attacking?

Since the beginning,  Luisão has showed a special taste for putting the ball in the back of the net, a special attraction for the goal… and he has scored several decisive goals that translated into victories, rounds won and titles, many titles!

It all started in 2003/04… Luisão made 22 appearances and scored four goals! In his debut, he showed what he was about. On November 14^th, 2003, Benfica traveled to Jamor and against Belenenses, the Brazilian centre-back scored one of the goals in the 3-all draw in matchday 4 of the Championship. A powerful left-footed strike.

The first was a left-footed strike… such as the last, scored on Sunday, in the rout over Vitória de Setúbal. In between there is more, a lot more... but we will return to that in a moment.

Let us go back to Sunday. Sport Lisboa e Benfica was coming from a rough week, after the elimination from the European competitions. Full focus on the domestic competitions and a Four-time champions' response on the pitch. Luisão entered the pitch for the warm-up and gave the motto for an individual and collective performance with great determination, ambition and will (see the video).

In the 7^th minute, a free kick taken by Pizzi on the left, Jardel jumps higher than everyone else and assists Luisão, who, with his left foot, makes an unstoppable shot for Cristiano. The way was opened for a solid rout and leaves Benfica  three points behind the leader, a few days before the trip to Dragão.

Between the first and the last goal… there were another 44 goals with the signature of Luisão.

Let us travel to 2004/05. Luisão played 41 matches, scored two goals, crucial for winning the desired National Championship. The first was in Algarve, in the matchweek 30, with Benfica facing Estoril. Luisão and Mantorras sealed a crucial 2-1 win. Also in that season, Luisão scored with a header against Sporting, at Luz, with Ricardo seeing the ball finish in the back of Sporting's net.

In the following season, 45 matches and two goals, the first scored on January 15^th, 2006, in the home match against Académica, in matchday 18 of the Championship, which resulted in a 3-0 win.

In 2006/07, 29 matches and two more goals. On September 17^th, 2006, in matchday 3 of the Championship, Luisão scored the single goal that gave Benfica the three points against Nacional da Madeira at Luz.

The captain started getting the hang of it and in 2007/08, in 35 matches, he scored four goals. The first happened on November 24^th, 2007, in the 1-3 victory, in the away match against Académica de Coimbra, in matchday 11 of the National Championship.

And in the following season, four more goals, this time in 33 matches… with one oddity! The first goal of the season – scored on September 18^th, 2008 - was also his first goal for Benfica in the European competitions. The reds traveled to Italy to face, in the Europa League, and Luisão scored in the 3-2 defeat.

In 2009/10, numbers that only few centre-backs are able to reach: 45 matches and six goals… and the first of those goals was against the same opponent as last Sunday. August 31^st, 2009, matchday 3 of the Championship, a big win at home, by 8-1, against Vitória de Setúbal, with the captain associating his name to the biggest rout at Estádio da Luz.

Not pleased with that, a new season and even more impressive numbers in his context. In 2010/11, Luisão played 46 games and scored 5 goals … but he scored in all competitions Benfica took part in, European and domestic. The first was on August 28^th, 2010 for the National Championship, in matchday 3, in the home win (3-0) against Vitória de Setúbal.

In 2011/12, two more goals, this time in 41 matches played. The first goal was on August 28^th, 2011, in the Champions League playoff, in the 3-1 win against FC Twente.

A new season and another goal with the signature of Luisão, in 33 games played. He scored on November 24^th, 2012, in the 2-0 win at home, against Olhanense, in matchday 10 of the Championship.

In 2013/14 another unique season, as Luisão scored 6 goals in 49 matches! Once again, the captain scored in all the competitions where Benfica was playing in. The first was on September 17^th, against Anderlecht (2-0). It was during this season that he also scored twice for the first and only time with the red jersey, in the 1-3 victory against Tottenham, for the Europe League (Last 16).

On the following season, more four goals in 39 matches. Curiously, all of them scored in the Championship.

In the 2015/16, 17 matches and a goal for the captain! Luisão scored in the Champions’ League Group Stage, at Luz, against Galatasaray (2-1).

On the last season (2016/17), more 39 matches and another goal, this time scored on October 14^th 2016, against 1.º Dezembro, on the 3^rd round of the Portuguese Cup.

The calculations are easy to make! It is a singular journey... 46 goals, as a consequence of 14 seasons of excellency, with Luisão as an example of determination and goals, many goals! Luisão is the portrait of the Mystic. 

Text: Sónia Antunes

Pics: SL Benfica