The greatest footballer you never knew was kidnapped into greatness.
This is the story of a young Mozambican footballer called Eusébio, a gifted athlete destined to great achievements, coveted by rival clubs, Sporting and Benfica, which ends up hiring him. Blackmail, kidnapping attempts, ministers involved, press hysteria and huge money offers make the story of this football transfer into a saga evolving between the two continents. It ends up when the legend begins: with Eusébio’s first match at the Benfica Stadium.
Acting
Igor Regalla captures Eusébio's quiet determination amid chaos.
Production
Period detail nails 1960s Lisbon and colonial Mozambique tension.
Writing
Turns a transfer saga into geopolitical chess match.
Director
António Pinhão Botelho
Igor Regalla
Eusébio
Paulo Furtado
Laurindo da Silva Ferreira
J.P. Simões
Padre Henrique
Álvaro Correia
Brás Medeiros
José Raposo
Dr. Nunes Pantaleão
António Simão
Camilo Antunes
António Nipita
Chico Maneta
Mauro Hermínio
Hilário adulto
Pedro Inês
José Mateus
Miguel Monteiro
Chefe de redacção
Afonso Lagarto
Abel dos Correios
Miguel Borges
Mário Melo
Dinis Gomes
Arlindo Malosso
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title 'Ruth' references Eusébio's birth name, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira—'Ruth' was a nickname from his mother.
The film parallels modern football's transfer market, where African players are still extracted under coercive economic pressure—little has changed since 1960.
PT
