Eusébio Cup

Lore & Background

The Eusébio Cup was first held in 2008, with Inter Milan winning the inaugural edition. The trophy is made of glass, bears the name of the match and its winners, and features a figure of Eusébio performing his trademark shooting technique, similar to his statue outside Estádio da Luz. Eusébio himself presented the trophy to the winning team until 2013, before his death in January 2014.

The match has been played annually and without interruption until 2016. Despite two tries, there was no edition in 2017. A year later, the Eusébio Cup returned as part of the 2018 International Champions Cup. After a three-year hiatus, the competition was revived in 2022. The match was not played in 2023 and returned once again the following year.

Winners include Benfica (multiple times), Inter Milan, Tottenham, São Paulo, Ajax, Monterrey, Torino, and Lyon. The 2016 edition also served to honour the memory of the Grande Torino team who died in the Superga air disaster. No invited team has participated in more than one edition.

Reader's Guide

The Eusébio Cup holds significance as a tribute to Eusébio, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time and Benfica's greatest player. The trophy itself is symbolic, dedicated to his legacy. The competition has provided a platform for Benfica to host top international clubs in pre-season, though participation has been limited to one edition per invited team. The cup's history reflects interruptions and revivals, including a brief integration into the International Champions Cup in 2018. Its continued existence, despite gaps, underscores the enduring respect for Eusébio within Portuguese football. The match has been broadcast in Portugal by various television channels, though specific broadcasters are not detailed here. The cup's format has remained a two-team competition, with no expansion ever implemented despite initial plans.

Did You Know?

• The Eusébio Cup trophy is made of glass and features a figure of Eusébio performing his trademark shooting technique.
• The competition was not played in 2017 despite two attempts, and returned in 2018 as part of the International Champions Cup.