“Otamendi can make history and equal a record at Amoreira.”

Nicolás Otamendi is about to make history in Portuguese football in an absolutely unprecedented and captivating way. The captain of Benfica could become the first player in the history of the Portuguese League to finish three seasons without suffering a single defeat, a colossal achievement that no one has yet managed to accomplish. The opportunity arises this Saturday, in the decisive clash against Estoril, at Amoreira, where the Eagles can secure yet another historic milestone.

To date, in 91 editions of the top national competition, only four teams have managed to finish the championship unbeaten: Benfica in the 1972/1973 and 1977/1978 seasons, and FC Porto in the 2010/2011 and 2012/2013 seasons. These feats are extremely rare and represent the pinnacle of consistency and dominance in Portuguese football. Now, 13 years after FC Porto’s last unbeaten season led by Vítor Pereira, José Mourinho’s Benfica is on the verge of joining this elite group, in a championship where the team has yet to lose.

What makes this story even more impressive is the presence of Otamendi, who has already experienced this glory twice in Portugal, while playing for FC Porto. The Argentine defender was a key player in the invincible campaigns of the dragons in 2010/2011 and 2012/2013. Should Benfica avoid defeat against Estoril, Otamendi will achieve this feat for the third time, something absolutely unprecedented in the history of Portuguese football. No other player has accomplished this in three different championships.

A closer look at the numbers reveals even more fascinating details. Throughout these four unbeaten championships, 78 players participated in at least one of these perfect seasons, distributed between Benfica and FC Porto. However, 18 players repeated the feat, featuring on both teams’ lists: eight Benfica players were part of the two unbeaten campaigns in the 1970s, and ten Porto players achieved the same between 2010 and 2013. Otamendi is, therefore, the only player who can elevate this number to three times.

What is at stake this Saturday at Amoreira is not just another Liga game; it is the possibility of a historic milestone, a record that will forever be etched in the annals of Portuguese football. Benfica could finish the 2025/2026 season unbeaten, a feat that has not occurred in over a decade, and Otamendi will be the protagonist of this historic chapter, poised to secure legendary status.

For the fans of the eagles and all football lovers, this match is unmissable. The journey towards glory continues, and Otamendi’s name shines ever brighter, ready to immortalize himself as the unbeaten king of the Portuguese League. If Benfica leaves Amoreira without a loss, we will witness an achievement that deserves to be celebrated with maximum intensity – and Otamendi will undoubtedly be the hero of this invincible saga.

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).