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Ricardo Araújo Pereira is Benfica’s member number 12,049 — a title he wears with pride, although the connection could have started earlier. “They made me a member when I was 10. My daughters have been members since they were born,” he says. At 51 years old, he has been a member of his favorite club for more than four decades. Until the end of 2025, SIC Notícias will retrieve the most listened to episodes of the year from ‘Ontem Já Era Tarde’. Remember here the comedian talking about his passion for Benfica
Ricardo Araújo Pereira has no doubts about his place in the Benfica universe: outside the club’s structures, but always attentive to his path. “I don’t want a position at Benfica, nor a contract, nothing. I only want one thing: for Benfica to win. That’s my only interest”, he states.
The comedian supported João Noronha Lopes in the 2020 elections, when he presented himself as a candidate for president, against Luís Filipe Vieira, and is now doing so again for the vote scheduled for October. “I met Noronha Lopes because he sent me a message saying he was going to run for Benfica and wanted to talk to me. I liked what I heard and now what I want is for him to win the elections. Afterwards, I shake his hand and go home to watch and evaluate, as I did with all the presidents”, he explains.
Since making his position public, he says that he has been the target of a “huge wave of dirt”, something that causes him even more perplexity because, he guarantees, he does not have any personal ambition at the club. “I’m not looking for an agreement with Benfica or any position. I’ve done several jobs for the club — like sketches or hosting a gala — and I’ve never charged anything, because that would be like charging money to the family.”
And he gives a clear example of the distance he wants to maintain: “If they gave me a position in roller hockey, for example, I would refuse. And I would refuse for the good of Benfica. I only have one interest in Benfica: I want Benfica to win. Nothing more.”
Football is the starting point in these conversations without borders or scheduled destination. Every week, on Thursday, Luís Aguilar takes the field with a different guest. The game starts now because Yesterday It Was Late.
