57Sandro Cruz

Sandro Plínio Rosa da Cruz was born in Braga on 12 May 2001 and is the son of the Angolan handball international Filipe Cruz. A left-back, he spent eight seasons in Benfica's academy at Seixal, winning national titles at under-15 (2015/16), under-17 and under-19 (both 2017/18) before graduating to the reserve side.

He was a regular for Benfica B across 2020/21 and 2021/22, making 36 appearances in Liga Portugal SABSEG, and was rewarded with a first-team call-up: he made two Primeira Liga appearances for Benfica, debuting on 30 April 2022 in a 1-0 win over Marítimo.

In July 2022 Benfica loaned him to G.D. Chaves, who made the deal permanent in June 2023 with Benfica retaining half of the economic rights. He joined Gil Vicente on a three-year contract in July 2024 and moved to Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Niké liga in 2025. Although born in Portugal, he chose Angola at senior level, making his debut on 7 June 2024 against Eswatini in a World Cup qualifier.