Miguel Rosa

Benfica

A product of hometown's S.L. Benfica's youth system, Lisbon-born Rosa joined the club at the age of nine. In a 2006–07 end-of-season friendly with AEK Athens FC, courtesy of manager Fernando Santos, he made his debut with the first team, replacing legendary Rui Costa. He eventually returned to the juniors, scoring 18 goals in his last year in the category. Rosa would be loaned by Benfica in the following three seasons, always to clubs in the Segunda Liga. He made his professional debut on 31 August 2008, playing 17 minutes for G.D. Estoril Praia in a 0–0 home draw against U.D. Oliveirense, and was voted the league's Young Player of the Month in December 2008. He scored ten goals in the 2009–10 campaign for A.D. Carregado (11 overall) who were competing at that level for the first time ever, eventually being relegated. In 2010–11, with C.F. Os Belenenses, Rosa was often played as a second striker instead of his favoured attacking midfielder position. He finished with 11 goals in all competitions, and was named the Player of the Year. In the following summer, Rosa was called to Benfica's first team along with fellow youth graduates Nélson Oliveira, Rúben Pinto and David Simão. However, it was soon after announced that the club and Belenenses had reached an agreement on extending the loan for the entire 2011–12 season: he continued with his goalscoring form and ended his second stint as team top scorer, also being voted the division two's Breakthrough Player of…

An international for Portugal at youth level, Rosa was elected Best Player in the 2008 Torneio Internacional do Porto for the under-19 team.

As of 13 July 2021

Segunda Liga Player of the Year: 2010–11, 2012–13 Segunda Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2011–12 SJPF Segunda Liga Young Player of the Month: December 2008, October 2011, April 2012, August/September 2012, February 2013 SJPF Segunda Liga Player of the Month: August/September 2012, October/November 2012, January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013 Primeira Liga Goal of the Month: March 2016 Taça da Liga top scorer: 2011–12 Torneio Internacional do Porto Best Player: 2008