His performances led to a move to Benfica in 1962, and made his debut on 21 October 1962, in an away win to Belenenses. Due to an injury in Germano, he played 37 games in the centre of a WM formation, winning the league title and losing the European Cup Final. In the next season, he lost his starting position to Luciano, playing the majority of his games in the domestic cup, which the club successfully conquered. After a one-year on the right side of the WM formation, Machado easily adapted to the more common 4–4–2 in 1965 and played four more seasons at Benfica.