Benfica have officially registered the Eusebio trademark with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and has exclusive rights to commercialize various products and services of the "Black Panther" until August 14, 2028. Benfica filed for the trademark on May 30, 2018 but nine months after the application was filed a formal challenge was made against Benfica owning those rights which stalled the officially registration but the club was awarded the decision to the rights in 2019.
Benfica will now proceed with using the Eusebio rights to make various products with the players likeness and name from video games, luggage, clothing, wrapping paper, Christmas ornaments and even animal products like leashes and collars to name a few. Eusebio's family will also reap financial benefits from the proceeds of sales by the club of all Eusebio trademarked products and the club has stated that they would be open to returning the brand back to the Eusebio family before the trademark expiry date if this is what the family wishes in the future.
Eusebio played for Benfica from 1961 to 1975 and appeared in 440 games for the club across all competitions, scoring an astonishing 473 goals to sit atop Benfica's all time goal scoring list. Eusebio won one European Cup and eleven Portuguese League titles in his time with the club and was named the Ballon d'Or winner in 1965.
Eusebio also won the European golden boot on two occasions (1968 and 1973) and was the golden boot winner of World Cup 1966 scoring nine goals in the competition. Eusebio passed away at his home on January 5, 2014 of heart failure he was 71.
With the Portuguese league set to resume on June 4 and with FIFA having approved that a league may use up to five substitutes per game to close off the season, Benfica academy players could see their first set of action with the main club before seasons end.
We take a look at the most likely candidates that could make their debuts when the resumes.
Academy Players:
Tiago Dantas- Dantas made his first team appearance in the League Cup this season but has yet to play a league game for the main club, the talented 19 year old midfielder has been in the Benfica system since 2008.
Goncalo Ramos- The 18 year old striker has moved up the charts into one of the clubs better academy players and has been with the club since 2013, Ramos could add a Joao Felix type of play to the clubs attack.
AC Milan have turned up the heat on their pursuit of 20 year old midfielder Florentino Luis as the Italian club hopes to land the youngster during the summer transfer window. Milan are said to be set to offer Benfica a player on their current roster with Lucas Paqueta's name being mentioned as the most likely candidate to be part of the transaction and €15M cash to land Florentino. Milan have been trying to get Florentino to Italy since the winter transfer market and were trying to negotiate an 18 month loan with a €40M buy out clause attached but Benfica turned the move down as they felt the buyout clause was too low. Milan hope by adding the 22 year old attacking midfielder Paqueta as part of the deal this will entice Benfica to let Florentino join their club. Florentino has appeared in 15 games across all competitions for Benfica registering one assist while Paqueta has appeared in 19 games across all competitions for Milan also adding one assist.
