Jose Mourinho ended the Primeira Liga season without losing a single match as Benfica completed an unbeaten campaign, yet the Portuguese giants still failed to win the league title.
Benfica wrapped up the 2025/2026 season with a 3-1 victory over Estoril in their final league fixture, finishing the campaign with 23 wins and 11 draws from 34 matches.
Despite the remarkable record, Mourinho’s side finished third on the table with 80 points, trailing champions Porto by eight points and ending two points behind second-placed Sporting Lisbon.
The outcome makes Benfica one of the few clubs in modern football history to go through an entire domestic league season unbeaten without lifting the championship trophy.
Although Mourinho’s team displayed strong defensive organisation and consistency throughout the season, the large number of drawn matches proved costly in the title race.
Benfica’s unbeaten run now places them among a rare group of European clubs, including FC Sheriff of Moldova and Red Star Belgrade of Serbia, who completed league seasons without defeat but still missed out on the title.
It is also a painful reminder of Benfica’s 1977/78 campaign when the club similarly finished unbeaten but lost the league crown to Porto on goal difference.
Even without winning the title, Mourinho’s impact at Benfica has drawn widespread praise from supporters and football analysts.
The Portuguese manager, who joined the club last September on a two-year contract, quickly rebuilt the team into one of Europe’s hardest sides to beat through disciplined tactics, defensive solidity and strong mentality.
Under his leadership, Benfica remained unbeaten domestically while also staying competitive across multiple competitions.
However, the campaign may now mark the end of Mourinho’s brief spell at the club amid reports linking him with a sensational return to Real Madrid.
According to reports, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is interested in bringing Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabéu as the Spanish club prepares for another rebuilding phase ahead of next season.
If the move eventually happens, Mourinho would leave Benfica with a historic yet bittersweet achievement that will remain one of the most unusual stories in Portuguese football history.
