sport.wikisort.org - Athlete

António João Pereira Albuquerque Tavares Silva (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈtɔniuˈsiɫvɐ]; born 31 October 2003) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Benfica.

António Silva

Silva with Benfica in 2022
Personal information
Full name	António João Pereira Albuquerque Tavares Silva[1]
Date of birth	(2003-10-31) 31 October 2003 (age 18)
Place of birth	Viseu, Portugal[1]
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current team	Benfica B
Number	66
Youth career
–2012	Penalva do Castelo
2012–2015	Repesenses
2015–2016	Viseu United
2016–	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Benfica B	2	(0)
2022–	Benfica	4	(0)
National team‡
2019	Portugal U16	8	(0)
2019–2020	Portugal U17	8	(1)
2021	Portugal U18	2	(0)
2021–	Portugal U19	9	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:30, 29 September 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:14, 26 April 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Viseu, Silva began his youth career with hometown club Viseu United. He also had a spell at Penalva do Castelo and Repesenses, before moving to Benfica's youth academy, where he finished his development.[3] On 28 November 2021, Silva signed his first professional contract with Benfica B.[4] He made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 2–1 LigaPro loss to Mafra on 2 April 2022.[5] During that season, Silva played a major role in the 2021–22 UEFA Youth League, where Benfica U19 topped their group against Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.[6][7] In the final phases, he scored the equaliser in a 3–2 win over Midtjylland, after his side were two goals behind and in the final, he helped his side keep a clean sheet in a 6–0 win over Red Bull Salzburg to help Benfica win their first Youth League title, and their first title in European football since the 1961–62 European Cup.[8]

In the 2022–23 season, he began training with the first team, after impressing newly arrived coach Roger Schmidt.[9] He would progress in the team's centre-backs ranks, ahead of Tomás Araujo and Jan Vertonghen, who was away on international duty for Belgium.[10] Following the suspension of Nicolás Otamendi, he was given his first start by the new coach on 27 August, being entrusted in the centre defence, alongside Morato, in a 3–0 away win over Boavista in the Primeira Liga.[11] On 5 September, he agreed to a contract extension to 2027, increasing his buyout clause to €100 million.[12][13] The following day, following Benfica's injury crises, with Morato also being injured, Silva made his UEFA Champions League debut, partning with Nicolás Otamendi in the centre of defence, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 home win over Maccabi Haifa.[14]

International career

Silva represented Portugal at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19, for a total of 18 caps, serving as captain for the latter.[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 September 2022[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[lower-alpha 1]		League Cup[lower-alpha 2]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Benfica B
	2021–22	Liga Portugal 2	2	0	—		—		—		—		2	0
	2022–23		2	0	—		—		—		—		2	0
	Total		4	0	—		—		—		—		4	0
Benfica
	2022–23	Primeira Liga	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	—		6	0
Career total			8	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	—		10	0

Honours

Benfica

• Campeonato Nacional de Juniores: 2021–22[17]
• UEFA Youth League: 2021–22[18]

References

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