24Samuel Soares

A product of the Caixa Futebol Campus, the Amadora-born goalkeeper began at União de Tires before joining SL Benfica's academy in 2013 and rising through every level of the club's formation.

Soares was a central figure in the 2021/22 UEFA Youth League triumph, helping the Under-19s top a group containing Dínamo Kiev, Barcelona and Bayern Munich before the 6-0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg in the final delivered the club's first European title since 1961/62. That same year he also won the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.

He made his Benfica B debut in August 2022 and signed his first professional contract with the club in October of that season, being rewarded with a Primeira Liga winner's medal in 2022/23. Early in 2023/24 he was handed his run in the senior side, starting three consecutive matches and keeping two clean sheets, and he has since remained part of the first-team goalkeeping group, adding further domestic silverware.

Internationally, Soares represented Portugal from Under-15 through to Under-20 level before making his Under-21 debut in June 2022 in a 5-1 win over Belarus, going on to take part in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.