João Neves puts Cristiano Ronaldo in the shade, Benfica’s champion shines | OneFootball

João Neves - who recently addressed his departure from the Eagles - experienced a special night in PSG's draw against Bilbao, in the sixth round of the Champions League. The midfielder, who came up through Benfica's ranks, reached the milestone of 30 Champions League matches, setting a new all-time record for Portuguese football, surpassing a mark previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Historic Record in the Champions League

The former Benfica player thus became the youngest Portuguese ever to reach this number of appearances in the competition. At just 21 years and 74 days old, the midfielder surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo. The captain of the National Team reached this milestone when he was 22 years and 226 days old, while at Manchester United.

The match in the last round of the group stage ended goalless against the Basque side, but it will remain etched in the memory of João Neves. This historic milestone comes at a time when the player already has the most coveted trophy on his résumé, brilliantly won last season with the Parisians.

Contribution in Red

His journey in the millionaire competition began while still wearing the Eagles' shirt, before his transfer. Of the 30 matches played so far, nine were with the Sport Lisboa e Benfica jersey. The international featured in three matches in the 2022/23 season and played every minute of six games in the following season.

While at Benfica, between the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, João Neves played a total of 75 official matches, in which he scored four goals and contributed two assists. During his time with the Eagles' first team, the midfielder helped win a National Championship and a Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup.

Frequently Asked Questions about João Neves

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