Benfica player suffers serious injury after match against Flamengo

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Coluna do Fla

·13. Juli 2026

Benfica player suffers serious injury after match against Flamengo

Flamengo beat Benfica (POR), of Jaden Umeh, 2-0 in the Algarve

Flamengo’s win over Benfica (POR) was only a friendly, but some moments felt like an official match. As a result, Benfica forward Jaden Umeh suffered a serious muscle injury during the match at the Algarve Stadium, which ended in a rubro-negro victory.

The Irish Benfica academy player strongly complained about a hard challenge from Emerson Royal on Saturday (11). However, it is not possible to say that the Rio-born right back caused the 18-year-old’s right thigh injury.

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How did Emerson Royal challenge Jaden Umeh?

Still in the first half, Jaden received a pass with his back to the rubro-negro fullback, who, in trying to win the ball, struck the youngster’s legs. The referee then awarded a foul, but the forward was unable to continue and asked to be substituted.

How long will Jaden be out?

According to reporting by Portuguese outlet A Bola, the forward will be out for three months, which rules him out for the first part of the European season. Argentine Gianluca Prestianni came on in Jaden’s place in the match against Fla.

Who is Jaden?

The loss is an important one for Benfica, who see the youngster as a prodigy. The Portuguese club signed the player from Cork City of Ireland. The winger then managed 15 goals and five assists in the 2026 season for the club’s youth teams.

And what about the match between Flamengo and Benfica?

Despite being a friendly, Fla won a trophy by beating Benfica 2-1 with goals from Samuel Lino and Wallace Yan. As a result, the Algarve Tournament belongs, for the first time, to a South American club — Mengão.

What is the author’s opinion on the friendly between Flamengo and Benfica?

It’s a shame that Jaden got injured, but I think it’s wrong to blame Royal for the injury. It’s the kind of play that happens frequently in football. So it was just an unfortunate accident,” said João Vítor Reis of Coluna do Fla, who added: “Other than that, Fla made good use of the three friendlies in Portugal. The most curious thing of all is that the two rubro-negro wins came against the European teams. If the opponents were missing players and out of rhythm, Mengo was too,” he said.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.