How Many Champions Does Benfica Have? A Comprehensive Guide to S.L. Benfica’s Trophies

Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known simply as Benfica, stands as one of the most decorated and historically significant sports institutions in Portugal and across European football. When addressing the question of how many champions does Benfica have, the answer requires exploring multiple dimensions: the club's domestic league championships in football, its extensive triumphs in other official sports disciplines under the Benfica multi-sports umbrella, and its historical achievements on the international stage.

As of 2026, Sport Lisboa e Benfica holds 38 Primeira Liga football titles, making them the record holders for domestic league championships in Portugal. However, the concept of "champions" at Benfica extends far beyond the men's football team. The club operates as a vast multi-sports powerhouse, capturing hundreds of national and international championships across roller hockey, basketball, futsal, volleyball, handball, and athletics, alongside two prestigious European Cup titles in men's football.

The Core Football Record: Domestic League Championships

To understand Benfica's status as a champion club, one must begin with the Primeira Liga, the top tier of Portuguese professional football. Domestically, Benfica is historically the most successful club in terms of league titles, though rivalries with FC Porto and Sporting CP remain fiercely contested year after year.

Breakdown of the 38 Primeira Liga Titles

Benfica secured its first official national championship under the league format (or the historical Campeonato de Portugal knockout precursor, though official recognition heavily favors the modern league structure established in 1934) in the 1935–36 season. Over the decades, the club has experienced several golden eras:

• The Early Decades (1930s–1950s): Establishing dominance alongside Sporting and Belenenses.
• The Eusébio Era (1960s): A period of immense domestic and international supremacy where Benfica won numerous league titles, heavily anchored by the legendary striker Eusébio.
• The 1970s and 1980s: Continued tactical evolution and fierce battles with Porto, maintaining a steady accumulation of silverware.
• Modern Era: The club continues to fight at the pinnacle of Portuguese football, consistently adding titles to its historic tally.

Other Domestic Football Honors

Beyond the 38 league titles, Benfica’s football trophy cabinet is filled with domestic cup competitions:

• Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup): Over 25 titles.
• Taça da Liga (League Cup): Multiple victories since the competition's inception.
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (Portuguese Super Cup): Numerous wins matching league and cup victors.

International Glory: European Cup Triumphs

While domestic dominance defines much of Benfica's everyday identity, the club's international pedigree rests on its successes in Europe’s premier club competition, the European Cup (now known as the UEFA Champions League).

Benfica has been crowned European champion twice:

1. 1960–61 Season: Benfica defeated the Spanish giants FC Barcelona 3–2 in Bern, Switzerland, claiming their first-ever European Cup title under coach Béla Guttmann.
2. 1961–62 Season: In an exhilarating final in Amsterdam, Benfica overcame Real Madrid 5–3, featuring a stellar performance by Eusébio, successfully defending their European crown.

Additionally, Benfica reached the final of the European Cup on five other occasions (1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, and 1990) as well as reaching UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup finals in more recent history. While they finished as runners-up in those instances, reaching seven European finals cements Benfica's historical status as an elite European powerhouse.

Benfica as a Multi-Sports Powerhouse

Limiting the conversation strictly to men's football overlooks the broader operational structure of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. The organization is officially a multi-sports club (clube polidesportivo), meaning it fields professional and amateur teams across a wide array of disciplines. In each of these sports, Benfica athletes and teams have secured numerous national and international championships.

Roller Hockey (Hóquei em Patins)

Roller hockey is one of Benfica's most successful and passionately supported sports outside of football. The club has won numerous national league championships and domestic cups, and crucially, multiple CERH European Leagues (now WS Europe Champions League), making them continental champions on the roller hockey rink.

Futsal

Benfica’s futsal team is a dominant force in Portugal and Europe. The club has secured multiple domestic Primeira Divisão de Futsal titles and famously lifted the UEFA Futsal Cup (now UEFA Futsal Champions League) in the 2009–10 season, defeating Inter Movistar in a memorable final.

Basketball, Volleyball, and Handball

In basketball, volleyball, and handball, Benfica regularly competes for domestic league titles and cup competitions. The basketball department, in particular, has experienced significant revitalization, capturing multiple national championships in the Liga Betclic and representing Portugal in European competitions like the FIBA Europe Cup.

Summary of Major Championship Categories

To visualize the scale of championships won across Benfica's primary competitive sports departments, consider the following structural overview:

Frequently Asked Questions

How many football league titles does Benfica have?

Benfica has won 38 Primeira Liga titles. This makes them the record holder for the most domestic league championships in the history of Portuguese professional football, ahead of their domestic rivals FC Porto and Sporting CP.

Has Benfica ever won the UEFA Champions League?

Yes, though under its historical format known as the European Cup. Benfica won back-to-back European Cups in the 1960–61 and 1961–62 seasons, defeating Barcelona and Real Madrid in the respective finals. They have also reached the final on five other occasions.

Is Benfica only a football club?

No. Sport Lisboa e Benfica is a comprehensive multi-sports club. In addition to football, the club maintains elite competitive departments in roller hockey, basketball, futsal, volleyball, handball, athletics, swimming, and cycling, accumulating hundreds of national and international championships across these disciplines.

Who are Benfica's main rivals in Portugal?

Benfica's primary domestic rivals are FC Porto and Sporting CP. Together, these three clubs are traditionally referred to as Os Três Grandes (The Big Three) of Portuguese football, having dominated the sporting landscape and shared the vast majority of league titles since the inception of the national championship.

Next Actions and Further Exploration

For fans, researchers, or sports historians looking to verify specific statistical milestones or explore match archives, consulting official institutional resources is recommended. You can review the official historical records via the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) or explore the club's dedicated museum and heritage database through the Official S.L. Benfica Website, which details every trophy won across all professional and amateur departments since the club's foundation in 1904.