Pizzi hangs up his boots, ex-Benfica star: It was a beautiful journey | OneFootball

The match between Benfica and Estoril, besides marking the close of the 2025/26 Liga Portugal Betclic season, also signaled Pizzi’s farewell to the pitch. A week after announcing his retirement, the 36-year-old midfielder was honored at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota, where he delivered an emotional message.

“I thank everyone who is here with me for my farewell. I especially thank my whole family, everyone who was always with me every day in this journey, my friends, and all the people who stood by me inside and outside the stadiums,” began the former Benfica star.

“It was a very beautiful journey, and I am very proud of the career I built. There are few words, but I was fortunate to experience so many good things alongside my loved ones. Thank you all very much. It was an enormous pleasure,” concluded Pizzi, in a brief speech delivered on the pitch at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota after the match.

It should be remembered that the number 21 started in Ian Cathro’s team and played until the 58th minute, when he was replaced by Rafik Guitane. As Pizzi made his way off the field, the stadium rose in a standing ovation for the player, and the players on the pitch made sure to give the former Benfica man a guard of honor.

The match against the Lisbon club thus marked the end of the 36-year-old midfielder’s career, one of the most successful names in Benfica’s recent history. Between 2014 and 2021, Pizzi wore the Sacred Shirt in 360 official matches, scoring 94 goals and providing 91 assists. The player, who also wore the captain’s armband, won 11 titles with the eagle on his chest.

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