The Portuguese Super Cup, officially known as the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, is an annual football match that serves as the traditional curtain-raiser to the Portuguese domestic season. Named after Cândido de Oliveira, a legendary Portuguese footballer, coach, and journalist, the competition pits the winners of the previous season’s Primeira Liga (the top-tier league) against the winners of the Taça de Portugal (the national cup). If the same team wins both competitions (achieving a domestic double), the runner-up of the Taça de Portugal takes their place. Organized by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the Supertaça has been a staple of Portuguese football since its unofficial inception in 1979, becoming official in 1981. It is typically played in early August, though the 2025 edition was held on July 31, 2025.
This article provides a detailed overview of the competition’s history, format evolution, a complete list of winners, and key records. The Supertaça not only showcases Portugal’s top clubs but also highlights intense rivalries, particularly among the “Big Three” – FC Porto, SL Benfica, and Sporting CP – who have dominated the trophy’s history.
History and Origins
The concept of a super cup in Portugal dates back to the mid-20th century with predecessor matches. In 1944, the Taça Império was played between league champions Sporting CP and cup winners SL Benfica to inaugurate the Estádio Nacional. This one-off event saw Sporting CP emerge victorious in extra time. Another precursor, the Taça de Ouro da Imprensa, occurred in 1964, where Benfica thrashed Sporting CP 5–0.
The modern Supertaça began unofficially in 1979 as a single match between Boavista FC (cup winners) and FC Porto (league champions), with Boavista winning 2–1. The 1980 edition was a two-legged affair, won by Benfica. These early matches, while not initially recognized as official by the FPF, are often included in historical records and winner tallies. The competition gained official status in 1981, and since then, it has been held annually without interruption.
Over the years, the Supertaça has reflected the dominance of Portuguese football’s elite clubs. FC Porto has been the most successful, often leveraging their league and cup successes to claim multiple titles. The match has also featured dramatic comebacks, penalty shootouts, and high-scoring affairs, making it a fan favorite.
Format Evolution
Initially, the Supertaça was contested over two legs (home and away) between 1980 and 2000, with replays required if aggregates were tied. This format led to extended campaigns, sometimes spanning months due to scheduling conflicts. For instance, the 1984 edition required a two-legged replay after the initial tie.
In 2001, the FPF reformed the competition into a single-match format at a neutral venue to streamline the calendar and boost interest. This change has remained in place, with venues like the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro and Estádio Algarve frequently hosting the event. The single-match setup has increased drama, with several editions decided by extra time or penalties.
Predecessors and Unofficial Editions
Before the official Supertaça, several precursor matches were held. These are not always counted in official tallies but are part of the competition’s heritage.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Sporting CP | Benfica | 3–2 (aet) | Estádio Nacional, Oeiras | Taça Império; extra time |
| 1964 | Benfica | Sporting CP | 5–0 | Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon | Taça de Ouro da Imprensa |
| 1979 | Boavista | Porto | 2–1 | Estádio das Antas, Porto | Unofficial; single match |
| 1980 | Benfica | Sporting CP | 4–3 agg. | Estádio José Alvalade & Estádio da Luz, Lisbon | Unofficial; two legs (2–2, 2–1) |
Official Winners List (1981–2025)
The following table details all official editions, including the year of the match, winner, runner-up, score, venue (where available), and notes. The list is up to date as of July 31, 2025, with Benfica claiming the most recent title.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Porto | Benfica | 4–3 agg. | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon & Estádio das Antas, Porto | Two legs (2–0, 4–1) |
| 1982 | Sporting CP | Braga | 7–3 agg. | Estádio 1º de Maio, Braga & Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon | Two legs (2–1, 6–1); Braga as cup runners-up |
| 1983 | Porto | Benfica | 2–1 agg. | Estádio das Antas, Porto & Estádio da Luz, Lisbon | Two legs (0–0, 1–2) |
| 1984 | Porto | Benfica | 4–1 agg. (replay) | Not specified | Two-legged replay after 1–1 agg. (1–0, 0–1); scores 3–0, 1–0 |
| 1985 | Benfica | Porto | 1–0 agg. | Not specified | Two legs (1–0, 0–0) |
| 1986 | Porto | Benfica | 5–3 agg. | Not specified | Two legs (1–1, 4–2) |
| 1987 | Sporting CP | Benfica | 4–0 agg. | Not specified | Two legs (0–3, 0–1) |
| 1988 | Vitória Guimarães | Porto | 2–0 agg. | Not specified | Two legs (2–0, 0–0) |
| 1989 | Benfica | Belenenses | 4–0 agg. | Not specified | Two legs (2–0, 2–0) |
| 1990 | Porto | Estrela da Amadora | 4–2 agg. | Estádio José Gomes, Amadora & Estádio das Antas, Porto | Two legs |
| 1991 | Porto | Benfica | 1–1 aet (4–3 p) (replay) | Estádio Municipal de Coimbra, Coimbra | Replay after 2–2 agg. |
| 1992 | Boavista | Porto | 4–3 agg. | Estádio das Antas & Estádio do Bessa, Porto | Two legs |
| 1993 | Porto | Benfica | 2–2 aet (4–3 p) (replay) | Estádio Municipal de Coimbra, Coimbra | Replay after 1–1 agg. |
| 1994 | Porto | Benfica | 1–0 (replay) | Parc des Princes, Paris | Replay after 1–1 agg. |
| 1995 | Sporting CP | Porto | 3–0 (replay) | Parc des Princes, Paris | Replay after 2–2 agg. |
| 1996 | Porto | Benfica | 6–0 agg. | Estádio das Antas, Porto & Estádio da Luz, Lisbon | Two legs |
| 1997 | Boavista | Porto | 2–1 agg. | Estádio do Bessa & Estádio das Antas, Porto | Two legs |
| 1998 | Porto | Braga | 2–1 agg. | Estádio das Antas, Porto & Estádio 1º de Maio, Braga | Two legs |
| 1999 | Porto | Beira-Mar | 5–2 agg. | Estádio Mário Duarte, Aveiro & Estádio das Antas, Porto | Two legs |
| 2000 | Sporting CP | Porto | 1–0 (replay) | Estádio Municipal de Coimbra, Coimbra | Replay after 1–1 agg. |
| 2001 | Porto | Boavista | 1–0 | Estádio do Rio Ave FC, Vila do Conde | Single match |
| 2002 | Sporting CP | Leixões | 5–1 | Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal | Single match; cup runners-up |
| 2003 | Porto | União de Leiria | 1–0 | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães | Single match; cup runners-up |
| 2004 | Porto | Benfica | 1–0 | Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra | Single match |
| 2005 | Benfica | Vitória de Setúbal | 1–0 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé | Single match |
| 2006 | Porto | Vitória de Setúbal | 3–0 | Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria | Single match; cup runners-up |
| 2007 | Sporting CP | Porto | 1–0 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2008 | Sporting CP | Porto | 2–0 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé | Single match |
| 2009 | Porto | Paços de Ferreira | 2–0 | Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro | Single match; cup runners-up |
| 2010 | Porto | Benfica | 2–0 | Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro | Single match |
| 2011 | Porto | Vitória Guimarães | 2–1 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2012 | Porto | Académica | 1–0 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2013 | Porto | Vitória Guimarães | 3–0 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2014 | Benfica | Rio Ave | 0–0 aet (3–2 p) | Not specified | Extra time, penalties |
| 2015 | Sporting CP | Benfica | 1–0 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé | Single match |
| 2016 | Benfica | Braga | 3–0 | Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro | Single match |
| 2017 | Benfica | Vitória Guimarães | 3–1 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2018 | Porto | Desportivo das Aves | 3–1 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2019 | Benfica | Sporting CP | 5–0 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé | Single match |
| 2020 | Porto | Benfica | 2–0 | Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro | Single match |
| 2021 | Sporting CP | Braga | 2–1 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2022 | Porto | Tondela | 3–0 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2023 | Benfica | Porto | 2–0 | Not specified | Single match |
| 2024 | Porto | Sporting CP | 4–3 aet | Not specified | Extra time; Porto came from 3–0 down |
| 2025 | Benfica | Sporting CP | 1–0 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé | Single match; goal by Pavlidis |
Records and Statistics
The Supertaça has been dominated by a handful of clubs, with FC Porto holding the record for most titles. Here is a summary of performance by club (including unofficial editions from 1979–1980, as often recognized in records):
| Club | Wins | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| FC Porto | 24 | 10 |
| SL Benfica | 10 | 13 |
| Sporting CP | 9 | 5 |
| Boavista FC | 3 | 2 |
| Vitória SC Guimarães | 1 | 4 |
- Most wins: FC Porto with 24 titles.
- Most appearances: FC Porto with 34 participations.
- Most consecutive wins: FC Porto with 5 (1993–1997, though with replays).
- Highest-scoring final: Benfica’s 5–0 win over Sporting CP in 2019.
- Biggest comeback: Porto’s 4–3 extra-time victory in 2024 after trailing 3–0.
- Top scorer all-time: Domingos Paciência with 6 goals.
- Most successful manager: Sérgio Conceição with 3 titles (all with Porto).
Notable facts include the competition’s international venues, such as Paris in 1994 and 1995, and the rarity of smaller clubs winning – only five teams have lifted the trophy. The 2025 edition marked Benfica’s 10th title, a milestone achieved with a narrow victory over rivals Sporting CP.
Notable Matches and Moments
- 1984 Replay Marathon: The edition required four matches (two legs plus a two-legged replay) before Porto prevailed.
- 2019 Thrashing: Benfica’s 5–0 demolition of Sporting CP remains the largest margin of victory in a single-match final.
- 2024 Epic Comeback: Porto overturned a 3–0 deficit against Sporting CP to win 4–3 in extra time, showcasing resilience under new management.
- 2025 Derby Win: Benfica’s 1–0 triumph over Sporting CP, decided by a goal from Pavlidis, added to the intense Lisbon derby rivalry.
The Supertaça continues to captivate fans, blending tradition with high-stakes football. As Portuguese clubs like Porto, Benfica, and Sporting maintain their European prominence, the competition remains a key indicator of the season ahead.
