Rui Costa warns José Neto and co about Benfica's future

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·4 December 2025

Rui Costa warns José Neto and co about Benfica's future

Rui Costa, President of Benfica, warned young world champions like José Neto, urging focus and hard work for the future.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica honored its young U-17 world champions, but President Rui Costa took the moment of celebration to issue a word of caution. The club’s leader called for focus and humility from José Neto and the other academy talents, emphasizing that this international achievement, though historic, is only the beginning of a journey that should be long and successful with the first team.

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What was Rui Costa’s message? During the reception for the athletes, the Eagles’ President praised their accomplishment: “It’s a huge achievement for the country, but as Benfica, we couldn’t be prouder to have been represented by you. The club with the most players at the World Cup, the country that wins with nine members from our academy. It’s an enormous source of pride for us.”

What warning did Rui Costa give? The club’s leader cautioned, however, that this is only the first step in a long career: “Celebrate this title well, as it will go down in history and remain in your memory forever. May you win many titles as professionals and one day be here on this side [the professional football team]. But this was just the beginning, not the end.”

Who were the honorees? Benfica’s contingent in the world champion squad was vast and of great quality. In addition to José Neto, who has attracted international interest, Rui Costa welcomed Daniel Banjaqui, Mauro Furtado, Ricardo Neto, Rafael Quintas, Miguel Figueiredo, Stevan Manuel, Tomás Soares, and Anísio Cabral.

What is the future of José Neto? One of the most prominent athletes and the subject of much discussion is José Neto. The full-back has several suitors interested in signing him, and Benfica’s intention is to renew his contract—which runs until June 2027—to avoid losing one of Seixal’s gems.

Frequently Asked Questions about Benfica’s World Champions:

How many Benfica players were U-17 World Champions? Benfica contributed nine players to the title
Who were the standouts? Anísio Cabral and José Neto were two of Benfica’s most prominent players in the World Cup
What did Rui Costa say to the players? He asked for humility, hard work, and to keep their feet on the ground, warning that the journey has only just begun.
Is José Neto leaving Benfica? The young left-back has several interested parties, but he is under contract until June 2027

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