18 months on, Benfica's perennial prospect returns to the pitch | OneFootball

Jota is finally back on the pitch. The former Benfica player brought a 524-day absence to an end and got minutes again in a friendly for Celtic against Falkirk, played behind closed doors in Lennoxtown. The match ended in a 2-0 win for the Scottish side.

The Portuguese winger was on the field for 45 minutes, thus taking another important step in his long recovery process. His appearance is part of the plan set out by Celtic and allows the player to gradually move closer to a return to official competition.

Jota, 27, had been sidelined since April 2025, when he suffered a serious knee injury. The Portugal international was injured during the match against Dundee United at Tannadice, and was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Since then, the former Benfica talent faced a long recovery period, which prevented him from helping the Scottish side on the pitch. Now, his return to matches represents a particularly important moment for the player, who is looking to gradually regain his competitive rhythm.

Jota’s appearance also comes at a delicate time for Celtic. The team went into the international break after a negative run, with three defeats against Rangers, on two occasions, and Ferencvaros. The Portuguese player's return could therefore be good news for the Scottish side, which hopes to have the winger available again once he is fully recovered and ready to compete at the highest level.

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