Museu Benfica
Home to Benfica's history, trophies, and a hologram of Eusébio.
The Museu Benfica – Cosme Damião is the museum of Portuguese sports club S.L. Benfica. Named after Cosme Damião, one of the club's founders in 1904, the museum was inaugurated on 26 July 2013 under the presidency of Luís Filipe Vieira and opened to the public on 29 July, one year and three months after the start of construction.
- Location
- Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
- Club Founded
- 1904
- Key Legend
- Eusébio da Silva Ferreira
- Major Trophy
- European Cup (1961/1962)
- Collection Focus
- Honours & Memorabilia
- Status
- Open to Public
- Affiliation
- SL Benfica
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Located near Benfica's stadium, the building occupies 4,000 square metres and is composed of three floors, which are accompanied by a huge vertical parallelepiped made of glass exhibiting roughly 500 trophies won by the club. The museum is split into 29 thematic areas containing around 1,000 pieces from a collection of 30,000, including trophies, documents, images, audio and video related to the history of Benfica, contextualised into domestic and international historic events of the 20th century. Moreover, the museum includes audiovisual touchscreens, a hologram of Eusébio, an area displaying photos of Benfica supporters and, lastly, an elevator surrounded by video walls showing messages and images of benfiquistas. This area transports visitors to a geodesic dome on the top of building, where a short film about the club's history is displayed.
In Their Own Story
A visitor pauses at the display marking the 1960s golden era, seeing the details of the 1963–64 team that set a record of 103 goals in just 26 league matches. The story recounts how Eusébio, along with Coluna and José Águas, led the charge to back-to-back European titles against Barcelona and Real Madrid, only to face setbacks in finals against AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Manchester United. It recalls the 1980–81 season under Lajos Baróti, where the club became the first to win all Portuguese trophies in one season: Supertaça de Portugal, Primeira Liga, and Taça de Portugal. The narrative also touches on the financial struggles of the early 1980s under Jorge de Brito and Manuel Damásio's term, contrasting with the triumphs of the Sven-Göran Eriksson era and the double won in 1986.
Reader's Guide
On 12 December 2014, the Museu Benfica was awarded the prize for Best Portuguese Museum of 2014 by the Portuguese Association of Museology. The museum has had 400,000 visitors.
Did You Know?
- The museum was inaugurated on 26 July 2013 and opened to the public on 29 July 2013.
- It features a huge vertical parallelepiped made of glass exhibiting roughly 500 trophies.
- The museum includes a hologram of Eusébio.
- It was awarded Best Portuguese Museum of 2014 by the Portuguese Association of Museology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Museu Benfica?
The Museu Benfica serves as a dedicated archive preserving the history of Sport Lisboa e Benfica since its founding in 1904. It officially opened within the Estádio da Luz complex in 2003 to honor the club's rich legacy.
Where can visitors find this museum?
Fans can visit the attraction located directly at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. It serves as a central hub for memorabilia belonging to 'As Águias'.
Which major trophies are showcased inside?
Exhibits highlight the club's record 85 domestic awards, including 38 Primeira Liga titles. Special attention is given to the unique back-to-back European Cup victories in 1961 and 1962.
Which legendary player does the museum feature?
The collection celebrates iconic figures such as Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, who remains the only Benfica player to win a Ballon d'Or. His contributions define much of the club's golden era history.
How does the museum reflect the fanbase size?
It stands as a tribute to the organization's 400,000 members, recognizing them as part of the world's largest sports club by membership. This section emphasizes the global support of 'Os Encarnados'.
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