Benfica Jonas Farewell Football Match Estádio da Luz

At the age of 35, Jonas, the number 10 jersey, says goodbye to the football pitches and fulfills a dream he's never hidden: to finish his career at Benfica.

In 2014/15, Jonas found himself in one of the saddest situations in his professional career. The summer transfer market closed and the Brazilian international had no club to display his talent. Benfica saw a golden opportunity and brought him to an ambitious and attractive project. After Valencia, the striker would spread his magic in another emblem from the Iberian Peninsula.

Here began the journey of a player that would become the 2^nd best foreign goalscorer in Benfica’s history, only surpassed by Óscar Cardozo.

The curtain falls after 182 official matches with an eagle on his chest in all competitions, 137 goals, and 35 assists. He also won nine titles: four National Championships, one Portuguese Cup, two League Cups and two Super Cups.

TITLES AT BENFICA

Trophies	Seasons
4 National Championships	2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2018/19
1 Portuguese Cup	2016/17
2 League Cup	2014/15 and 2015/16
2 Super Cups	2016/17 and 2017/18

Auspicious debut

Remembering Jonas’ debut at Benfica is to talk about goals, not only in the first match but throughout the season. The 2014/15 season was already underway when, on October 5, 2014, against Arouca, Pistolas came on after the break. It was hard to break the deadlock, but the eagles’ last 15 minutes were devastating, with four goals. The team’s last goal was scored by Jonas, at 88’. It was the first of the 137 goals he scored over these five seasons.

The Brazilian striker finished the 2014/15 season with an average of 0,89 goals per game (31 goals in 35 matches). He scored 20 in the Liga NOS, finishing just one goal away from being crowned the top scorer, six in Portuguese Cup and five in the League Cup.

The individual celebrations have merged with the collectives. Benfica celebrated the 34^th National Championship of its history and won the League Cup.

Goalscorer of excellence

After losing the Portuguese Championship Top Scorer award in 2014/15, in the following season, he did not give the most direct competitors a chance and clinched the trophy. In the end, Pistolas scored 32 goals in 34 matches, beating Slimani and his teammate Mitroglou.

Well-rounded, Jonas has skills that allow him to score all types of goals. With his right foot, left foot, headers, inside or outside the box, through open play and set pieces.

After winning the award in 2015/16 – he also won the National Championship and the League Cup–, Jonas won the Portuguese League top scorer award in 2017/18, with 34 goals in 30 matches (an average of 1,13 per encounter).

Jonas at Benfica equals goal

In his first season at Luz, he scored 31 goals in all competitions in 35 matches; in 2015/16, he was thetop scorer of the Liga NOS, but he left his mark in the remaining competitions. In the end, 36 strikes in 48 games (0,75 per match); 2016/17 was marked by injuries and the striker was several months sidelined. Even so, he finished the season with 18 goals in 28 matches (0,64 by encounter); after overcoming the injuries, Jonas emerged in red hot form in 2017/18. He was once again the Championship's top scorer and scored the 37 goals in 41 games in all competitions (0,90); 2018/19 was his last season playing for the reds. Pistolas scored 15 goals in 30 matches (0,50).

300 goals in his career

Among several unforgettable moments with an eagle on his chest, there is a match that will always be special for the number 10 jersey. On May 4, 2019, matchday 32 of the Liga NOS took place. A cheeky Portimonense showed up at Estádio da Luz and tried to upset the nearly 61 thousand Benfiquistas who were in the stands.

Then Jonas came off the bench... With the Brazilian on the pitch, the eagles flew for a 5-1 win. Rafa and Seferovic scored a brace, but the number 10 still had something to say. The match was in injury time and the result was 4-1, but Jonas still had the stamina to score another one.

He started the play in the defensive midfield and, in a stunning sprint, he reached Portimonense's penalty box to score with a header after a cross from André Almeida. Jonas had achieved 300 goals in all clubs and the Brazil national team.

Individual awards that complement the collective titles

In Portugal, Jonas won several awards, all well-deserved! In addition to being the top scorer of the Liga NOS in 2015/16 and 2017/18, Pistolas was considered the Best Player of the Liga NOS (2014/15 and 2015/16) and he was in Team of the Season in 2017/18.

Internally, Sport Lisboa e Benfica also made sure to value his footballing ability. He won the Cosme Damião Award for the Footballer of the Year in 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.