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18 mars 2018
Ruben Dias earned a shock Portugal call-up
16th September 2017 : a player named Ruben Dias made his first steps into senior football with Benfica Lisbon during the Liga NOS game against Boavista (1-2). At that moment, few observers thought that the 20-year-old centre-back would be in line for a sensational call-up to Portugal's World Cup squad few months later.
Despite his inexperience, Ruben Dias has forced his way into the Benfica starting XI (22 games played and 4 goals scored in all competitions this season) and has impressed the observers by his maturity.
Thanks to his consistency, in the Liga NOS as well as in the Champions League, the Amadora-born caught the eye of the Portugal head coach Fernando Santos who selected him for the first time for the upcoming friendlies against Egypt (23rd March) and Netherlands (26th March).
Few months after making his professional debut, Ruben Dias will now represent his country alongside a number of European champions like Cristiano Ronaldo and André Gomes.
“It was right after the training session, when I arrived at the dressing room, they sent me a message and I was very happy. It’s a feeling of happiness, but also of responsibility”, he told to the Benfica official website.
In 2016, Ruben Dias was playing the Toulon Tournament. Two years later, the Benfica youngster has a real chance to fulfill a childhood dream : playing the World Cup !
Amayes Brahmi -
