From the bustling terraces of Estádio da Luz to the high-stakes stages of the Champions League, Benfica’s 2024/25 campaign was a rollercoaster of emotion, ambition, and intense scrutiny. Among all the narratives — managerial changes, tactical tweaks, domestic heartbreaks, and continental battles — one thread remained constant: who would be the Benfica top scorer 2024/25 season? In this piece, ShanyaKick will guide you through the journey of that goalscorer, dissect the competition, and examine what his contributions meant for Benfica’s season as a whole.
The man who carried the burden: Vangelis Pavlidis
A breakthrough season in red and white
When we look across all competitions in 2024/25, Vangelis Pavlidis stood above the rest as Benfica’s top marksman. In the Primeira Liga alone, he notched 19 goals, securing the title of league top scorer for his club. But when the full slate of competitions — league, cup, Champions League, club world cup, etc. — is considered, Pavlidis amassed 30 goals in total. This tally made him the season top scorer for Benfica by a comfortable margin.
His scoring wasn’t limited to domestic stages — he found the net in European fixtures and other tournaments, showing versatility across different competitive pressures.
Performance that resonated
Looking into match-by-match data, Pavlidis wasn’t just prolific — he was consistent. His 19 league goals came from 34 appearances, with 27 starts. He maintained a strong presence in the attacking end, averaging roughly 0.76 goals per game in league play.
But beyond just the counting stats, Pavlidis’s impact manifested in key matches. Against Barcelona in the Champions League group stage, he delivered a first-half hat-trick that had Benfica leading 3–1 — a display of poise in Europe’s biggest arena.
His ability to deliver under pressure, especially when Benfica needed a spark, endeared him to fans and elevated his standing within the squad.
What set him apart
- Variety of scoring: He converted penalties (16 in league alone), but also showed composure on the break, tap-ins, and positional finishes.
- Minutes and fitness: Given his high appearance count, he avoided major injuries and was available when needed, which is crucial for any top scorer.
- Supporting cast: Players like Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Orkun Kökçü (7), and Ángel Di María (8) added goal pressure and rotation, but none matched Pavlidis’s consistency.
- Mental edge: In tight matches — especially in Europe — he found the right moments to push.
The challengers: Who else threatened the crown?
Benfica wasn’t a one-man show, and the race for top scorer had credible contenders.
- Kerem Aktürkoğlu: In league play, the Turkish forward put in 11 goals and supplemented them with 9 assists, marking him as a dual threat. But he couldn’t quite match Pavlidis’s total output.
- Ángel Di María: Even at age 36, Di María notched 8 league goals and added assists, often coming off the bench as a game-changer. His influence transcended pure goal scoring.
- Orkun Kökçü: The midfield maestro contributed 7 league goals and 7 assists, proving that Benfica didn’t rely purely on its strikers.
- Zeki Amdouni: Also netting 7 league goals, he served as a supplementary option, often deployed to stretch defences or relieve pressure.
In the broader context, no other player came close to matching 30 goals across all competitions, making Pavlidis’s dominance clear.
How Benfica’s season shaped that scoring run
A season of turbulence
2024/25 was not smooth sailing for Benfica. The club began with Roger Schmidt at the helm, but after the season’s opening month, Bruno Lage took over managerial duties. This shift inevitably affected formations, tactics, and player usage. Despite the change, Pavlidis emerged as a constant.
Domestically, Benfica finished 2nd in the Primeira Liga, narrowly missing out on the title to Sporting CP. They were runners-up in the Taça de Portugal, won the Taça da Liga, and reached the Round of 16 in both the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
Reliance on a talisman
Given tactical adjustments midseason, the fact that Pavlidis maintained scoring consistency signals how much the club leaned on him. His goals were especially critical in games where Benfica were trailing or under pressure.
In matches where Benfica faltered, including some in Europe, Pavlidis’s threat often kept them competitive. In the 5–4 thriller against Barcelona, for example, his hat-trick gave Benfica hope until the very end.
Comparison to past seasons
Historically, Benfica has seen strikers score between 20–30+ goals in strong seasons. But crossing the threshold of 30 in a campaign is a marker of excellence. Pavlidis thus joins an elite bracket in the club’s scoring history.
Statistical deep dive: Goals by competition & trends
| Competition | Appearances* | Goals by Pavlidis | Notes |
| Primeira Liga | 34 matches | 19 goals | Top scorer for Benfica in league |
| Domestic Cups (Taça, etc.) | Varies | ~6–8 goals | Key impacts in knockout rounds |
| UEFA Champions League | ~6–8 matches | ~5–8 goals | Delivered in big matches |
| Club World Cup / Others | Few matches | 1–2 goals | Added depth to overall tally |
| Total | — | 30 goals | Season top scorer tally |
* Appearance numbers approximate, based on available match logs.
Trends & insights
- Pavlidis converted a high proportion of big chances and penalties.
- His goals often came in clusters — for example, multiple-game runs.
- He maintained fitness and avoided major dips in form, which is notable over a heavy fixture list.
- He also benefited from accurate service — crosses, through balls from midfield — and strong support.
Legacy and what’s next
Scoring 30 goals in a season for a club of Benfica’s stature is not just a statistic — it’s a statement. Pavlidis now looms large in Benfica’s recent history, and the expectations for 2025/26 will only grow.
Will he remain a red legend or attract serious suitors in the transfer market? Clubs across Europe will note his consistency, especially given his European scoring record. For Benfica, keeping him, or at least ensuring that his departure is handled without gutting the attack, is vital.
Final Thoughts
In this article, ShanyaKick confirms that the Benfica top scorer 2024/25 season was Vangelis Pavlidis, with 19 league goals and a total of 30 goals across all competitions. His scoring prowess was central to Benfica’s competitiveness in both Portugal and Europe, and no other teammate came close to matching his output.
If you’d like to explore how that performance stacks up historically, or see how Pavlidis compares to top scorers in other major clubs or leagues, let me know — I’ll break it down further for you.
