A once-forgotten Portuguese club is now making waves in the country's top flight, thanks in part to the involvement of Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior. Alverca, historically a feeder club for Benfica, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years, climbing through the divisions and reaching the Primeira Liga in 2025 after securing back-to-back promotions.
The club's history has been turbulent. Promoted to the top flight for the first time in 1998, Alverca folded in 2005 following a costly relegation. It took years of rebuilding through the regional leagues before the club re-established itself at the highest level of Portuguese football.
That resurgence, however, forced a change in ownership. The Vicintin family, who ran both Alverca and fellow top-flight side Santa Clara, were barred from owning two clubs in the same division. Ricardo Vicintin, who oversaw Alverca, spoke of the emotional difficulty of the situation, given that his son Bruno ran Santa Clara.