Many images from the epic duel between Benfica and Real Madrid this Wednesday must have gained eternal life. One of them, certainly, is the moment in which José Mourinho celebrates Trubin’s goal, Benfica’s goalkeeper, with a tremendous hug to a ball catcher.
The Benfica coach grabbed a hitherto unknown kid who he found along the way, between the Reds’ bench and the Real Madrid bench. Facing the stands, celebrating with rage, in his own style, it was there, practically in front of his opponent’s face, that the coach ended up celebrating the qualifying goal, the final 4-2 that gave access to the play-offs.
Mourinho therefore embraced Francisco Cunha as if he were one of his players, in that moment of madness in Luz. BOLA reveals his name and a little more about a kid who has already gone viral.
Francisco Miguel Almas Carreto Cunha is 13 years old, born in Lisbon, and was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, so he shares the date with Di María. And he was born on the same day as João Cunha. It therefore means that he has a twin brother. And he’s Real’s goalkeeper… but from Massamá.
The Benfica ball catcher, who met Mourinho between the benches, in the tunnel area that gives access to the changing rooms, is well known in Seixal, as he trains and plays at the training center, for two of the club’s under-15 teams. He is a midfielder, on the 25th he was in Madeira to face Marítimo and has played for the Reds since the under-7s.
Francisco Cunha is still at a level of growth at all levels, but he has already crossed paths in the training phase at Seixal with names like Anísio Cabral, Banjaqui or José Neto, recent Luz fans, in the affirmation phase with Mourinho after having won the under-17 World Cup in 2025.
The young player also reacted to the moment on social media, with an image hugging his coach.
Worth a look
