Official! Rui Costa ties Benfica's box-to-box midfielder down | OneFootball

Benfica continue to invest heavily in youth development and have secured another young prospect for the future. Daniel Machado, a midfielder aged just 15, has signed a youth contract with Benfica, further strengthening his ties with the Club after his first season wearing the eagle on his chest, just like Dinis Telehovschi.

Born on June 8, 2011, the player currently features for the Under-16 Juvenis and is seen as a player with significant room to continue developing within the Eagles' structure. The young midfielder joined Benfica in the 2025/26 season from Crato, the club where he took his first steps in football.

Before moving to the Lisbon club, the footballer also spent time at Mercantil and Club Gimnàstic Manresa, experiences that contributed to his development and allowed him to gain different experiences in youth football.

In January 2026, Daniel Machado established himself as a regular for Benfica’s Iniciados. The midfielder played 22 matches, picking up important minutes for his adaptation to the reality of one of Portugal’s top clubs and for the continuation of his growth process.

In addition to his involvement with Benfica’s youth setup, the youngster also represented Crato’s Juvenis last season. Playing for the Alentejo side, he made seven appearances and scored six goals in the first half of last season.

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