José Neto in mourning, Benfica full-back faces family ordeal | OneFootball

José Neto is going through a particularly difficult time in his personal life following the death of his grandfather. The young Benfica defender has received messages of support from the Benfica family at a delicate moment for the left-back, who has been enjoying a rapid rise in professional football.

The loss carries even greater meaning given his grandfather’s connection to the player’s journey. In November 2025, after being crowned Under-17 World champion with Portugal, the young defender’s relative spoke publicly about the achievement and did not hide his pride in the accomplishment. On that occasion, he revealed that he was extremely happy with the national team’s run.

The 18-year-old wide player is going through a defining stage of his career. The defender joined Benfica in 2017/18 from Mineiro Aljustrelense and progressed through every step of the club’s academy before reaching the first team. In April this year, he renewed his contract with the Eagles until 2031.

His recent journey has been especially significant. After winning the European Championship and the World Cup, José Neto made his debut for Benfica’s first team in December 2025, and later made his first start at the Luz.

Now, in a moment of grief over the loss of a family member who closely followed his development, José Neto is receiving the support of Benfica fans: “The Benfica family is with you in this difficult moment, José Neto,” the messages addressed to the player read.

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