U-19 European Champions receive the Order of Merit

The U-19 European Champions – five of each from Benfica – were decorated in the early afternoon of Palácio de Belém with the Order of Merit. The President of the Portuguese Republic handed the insignia to the team that is now preparing for the U-20 World Cup in 2019..

In the presence of the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernando Gomes, the President of Portugal distinguished the players and the coaching staff that won the historic European title on July 29, 2018.

The 21 players– Diogo Costa, João Virgínia, Ricardo Benjamim (absent), Thierry Correia, Romain Correia, Diogo Queirós, David Carmo, Francisco Moura, Rúben Vinagre, Florentino, Miguel Luís, Diogo Teixeira, Nuno Henrique, Domingos Quina, Elves Baldé, Nuno Santos, Jota, Trincão, José Gomes, Mesaque Dju and Pedro Correia – and also the coaching staff, composed by Hélio Sousa, Joaquim Milheiro, José Carneiro and Pedro Espinha, were decorated with the insignia of sporting merit. The ceremony took place four months after Portugal have been crowned European Champions for the first time in the category after beating Italy by 4-3 after extra-time, in Finland.

Text: Filipa Fernandes Garcia

Pics: Isabel Cutileiro / SL Benfica