page_title: S.L. Benfica
section_title: Support
hierarchical_section_title: S.L. Benfica / Support
caption_attribution_description: English: Benfica fans celebrating their team’s championship in 2009/10 Português: Adeptos Benfiquistas celebram a vitória do Benfica no Campeonato Português 2009/10
context_page_description: Sport Lisboa e Benfica ComC MHIH OM, commonly known as Benfica, is a professional football club based in Lisbon, Portugal, that competes in the Primeira Liga, the top flight of Portuguese football.
  Founded on 28 February 1904 as Sport Lisboa, Benfica is one of the "Big Three" clubs in Portugal that have never been relegated from Primeira Liga, along with rivals Sporting CP and FC Porto. Benfica are nicknamed As Águias, for the symbol atop the club's crest, and Os Encarnados, for the shirt colour. Since 2003, their home ground has been the Estádio da Luz, which replaced the larger, original one, built in 1954. Benfica is the most supported Portuguese club and the European club with the highest percentage of supporters in its own country, having over 230,000 members and an estimated 14 million supporters worldwide. The club's anthem, "Ser Benfiquista", refers to Benfica supporters, who are called benfiquistas. "E pluribus unum" is the club motto; Águia Vitória, the mascot. Benfica is honoured with three Portuguese Orders: those of Christ, of Prince Henry and of Merit.
  With 83 major trophies won – 84 including the Latin Cup – Benfica is the most decorated club in Portugal.
context_section_description: The supporters of Benfica are known as benfiquistas. They sing the club's anthem at the start of every home match and sometimes during the match. They call the club O Glorioso (The Glorious One), hence the chant "Glorioso SLB". In some countries, since 1952, Benfica has had supporters' clubs known as Casas do Benfica (Benfica houses), places for cultural, social, and sport interaction among benfiquistas. Each club house is entitled to 50 votes in the club's elections. In recent years, benfiquistas have celebrated league titles with the team at the Marquis of Pombal Square in Lisbon.
  Benfica is the most popular club in Portugal and has always been seen as the working-class club of Portugal. According to a study published in 2006 by professors Luís Reto and Jorge de Sá, with the stamp of approval by Instituto Nacional de Estatística and Secretaria de Estado das Comunidades, Benfica has approximately 14 million supporters worldwide: over 5.5 million in Europe (4.7 in Portugal); over 6 million in Mozambique (3.8) and Angola (2.7); over 1 million in the United States and Canada; and the remainder in Brazil, Venezuela, the Caribbean, Indochina, China, Australia and India. According to a study performed for UEFA in 2012, Benfica is the European club with the highest share of football supporters in its own country (47%).
  In the 2016–17 season, Benfica had an average home attendance of 55,952 in the Portuguese league, the current record at the Estádio da Luz. It was the highest average of the competition and 9th highest among other European clubs. The highest home attendance record was also broken – 64,519 spectators saw Benfica's 5–0 win over Vitória de Guimarães in the season's last match at Da Luz.
caption: Benfica's 2009–10 league title celebration at Lisbon City Hall
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