Benfica concluded their Liga Portugal campaign with a 3-1 victory against Estoril, confirming an undefeated league season that remarkably resulted in a third-place finish. Ahead of the final fixture, manager José Mourinho had addressed persistent speculation linking him to Real Madrid, clarifying that no communication had occurred and that his future would be reviewed after the season concluded. The curtain fell on the 18-team competition with Benfica standing as the only side in the division to avoid defeat across all 34 matchweeks.
League Performance and Record Anomaly
Mourinho’s squad completed the 34-match league itinerary with a record of 23 victories, 11 draws, and zero losses. Despite this consistent accumulation of points, Benfica failed to secure the championship or the runners-up spot. The club amassed a total of 80 points, finishing eight points adrift of the champions, Porto, and two points behind second-placed Sporting CP.
This unusual outcome is not unprecedented in Benfica’s history. In the 1977-78 season, the club also remained unbeaten but lost the league title to Porto, who drew two fewer matches and secured the championship on goal difference.
Top Three Club Records: Liga Portugal Final Standings
The performance metrics and point distributions for the top three clubs are structured below:
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
| 1st (C) | Porto | 34 | — | — | — | 88 |
| 2nd | Sporting CP | 34 | — | — | — | 82 |
| 3rd | Benfica | 34 | 23 | 11 | 0 | 80 |
Century Milestones and Real Madrid Speculation
By finishing third without a loss, Benfica entered the record books alongside a rare group of European clubs. In the 21st century, only two other teams had previously completed an entire domestic league season undefeated without winning the title: Serbian side Red Star Belgrade in the 2007-08 season, and Moldovan club FC Sheriff during the 2024-25 campaign.
The fixture against Estoril is widely anticipated to be Mourinho’s final match in charge of Benfica. The 63-year-old manager, who signed a two-year contract with the Lisbon-based club last September, is reportedly in advanced discussions to return to the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez is understood to be determined to appoint Mourinho to rectify the Spanish club’s recent trophy drought, potentially bringing the manager back to Madrid after a 13-year absence.