Gianluca Prestianni Named I Liga Forward of the Month
The Benfica attacker secured the award after a strong performance during September and October.
1Prestianni Wins Monthly Honor
Gianluca Prestianni, the 20-year-old Benfica forward, has been officially named the I Liga Forward of the Month for September and October. The Argentine player secured 26.85% of the votes cast by league coaches, successfully outperforming his teammate Vangelis Pavlidis and Académico de Viseu's André Clóvis in the final selection process.
2Impactful Offensive Performance
The young attacker played a pivotal role in Benfica's recent run, which included five victories and one defeat. Prestianni started in all six matches analyzed, contributing significantly with goals and assists against Moreirense, Santa Clara, Marítimo, and Gil Vicente. He also provided an assist during the team's away match against FC Porto.
3Competitive Voting Results
The voting process was highly competitive among the league's top offensive talents. Prestianni led the group with 26.85% of the preferences, while André Clóvis followed closely with 24.87%. Vangelis Pavlidis rounded out the top three candidates, receiving 20.37% of the total votes from the coaches participating in the I Liga assessment.
4Broader League Recognitions
Beyond the forward category, other players were recognized for their contributions during the same period. Jan Bednarek of FC Porto was named defender of the month with 27.19% of the vote. Meanwhile, Ewerton from Académico de Viseu secured the goalkeeper award, narrowly edging out Diogo Costa after a tie-breaking procedure was required.
5Midfield Excellence Recognized
Cihan Kahraman, representing Académico de Viseu, was distinguished as the best midfielder of the month in the I Liga. He earned 21.30% of the votes, successfully surpassing competitors Gabri Veiga from FC Porto and Taichi Fukui from Arouca, highlighting the diverse distribution of talent across the league's various competing clubs this season.
6Second Division Standouts
In the II Liga, the forward of the month award went to Mauro Couto of Sporting B. The 20-year-old gathered 24.24% of the votes, outperforming Max Svensson and Rodrigo Pinho. The selection process utilized specific tie-breaking criteria, favoring the Spaniard Svensson due to his lower total minutes played compared to the other candidates.
7Couto's Scoring Streak
Mauro Couto demonstrated exceptional form during the two-month period, contributing four goals and two assists for Sporting B. His efforts were instrumental in victories against Feirense, Vizela, Portimonense, and Leixões. Furthermore, his consistent performance on the pitch earned him the Man of the Match distinction on three separate occasions during this timeframe.
8Significance of Awards
These monthly distinctions serve as a formal recognition of individual player influence within the Portuguese football structure. By analyzing performance data across both the I Liga and II Liga, the league highlights the most impactful contributors. Such awards provide a quantitative benchmark for talent development and tactical success within the national professional competitions.
Original article: Notícias ao Minuto — Gianluca Prestianni Named I Liga Forward of the Month