In December, Lisbon City Council honoured António Simões, the Benfica and Portuguese national team star of the 1960s, with the Municipal Medal of Sporting Merit. The medal was presented by the city’s mayor, Carlos Moedas. Simões had previously been awarded the Silver Medal of the Order of Prince Henry in 1966.
António Simões da Costa, born on 14 December 1943 in Corroios, became known in football circles as “Simões of Benfica” or, among his teammates, “Mickey Mouse,” a nickname given due to his small stature.
As with any story, this one begins with “once upon a time.” Here, it fits perfectly: once upon a time, two brothers, Aníbal and António, played football in the streets of their neighbourhood. Their talent caught the eye of a passerby with a keen understanding of football, who approached their parents with an idea to send the boys to Almada Futebol Clube. António seized the opportunity, while Aníbal chose to focus on his studies.
António soon attracted the attention of bigger clubs. Belenenses was interested, but negotiations fell through when Almada demanded 50 contos, a sum that never materialised. António then moved to Sporting with a salary of 750 escudos and trained at Alvalade. However, when the payment issue persisted, Benfica stepped in and reached an agreement with Almada. In 1959/60, António packed his bags and made his way to the Luz Stadium.
António’s brilliance shone, particularly in the European Cup, where Benfica claimed victory in 1962, marking their second European title. In 1963, he was recognised as one of Europe’s best. He donned the Portuguese national team jersey 46 times and was a key player in the 1966 World Cup, helping Portugal achieve an unprecedented third-place finish.
Representing his beloved Benfica, António played with the club from 1960 to 1975. He later joined Estoril Praia (1975/76), União de Tomar (1977/78), and eventually moved to the United States in 1980, ending his career in 1982 with the Kansas City Comets.
In early December, the book As Minhas Memórias (My Memories) was published, chronicling António Simões’ life. Written by sports journalist Miguel Trovar with a foreword by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the book reveals many fascinating stories. One notable chapter discusses António’s role in forming a players’ union during Portugal’s dictatorship. In an interview, the author explained: “It was before the 25th of April revolution, an idea conceived by António and other players. António joined forces with Jorge Sampaio, a prominent lawyer at the time and later one of Portugal’s presidents, to create the union.”
Simões shared the pitch with some of Benfica’s most iconic players, including Eusébio and Torres (both deceased), Nené, Águas, José Augusto, and Toni. Despite all his achievements, Simões still fondly recalls one moment above all: “The goal I scored against Brazil was the most beautiful goal of my life,” he says without hesitation.
