Benfica’s record-breaking presidential elections are likely to go to a second round run off despite a massive win for Rui Costa.
The club legend and incumbent has taken 45% of the vote with almost all ballots counted with challenger Joao Noronha Lopes down on 26%.
However, should the rest of the voters be anti-Costa, a Noronha Lopes challenge may be on.
Suggesting that will very much be the case, his campaign manager Vasco Mendonça wrote on Twitter/X: “If you think someone is going to give up something, it’s because you don’t know the man well yet. Let’s move on.”
The election has seen over 85,000 members votes from Portugal and beyond, a new record for a professional football club.
Benfica presidential election vote count as of 16:45pm (WET)
Rui Costa 45.56 %
João Noronha Lopes 26.66 %
Luis Filipe Vieira 14.71 %
João Diogo Manteigas 10.95 %
Martin Mayer 1.94 %
Christopher Carvalho 0.18 %
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