A fine dribbler with the kind of skill set that made him a natural second striker, the Brazilian Jonas Gonçalves Oliveira arrived at Benfica at 30. By Brazilian standards, what had come before didn't say much. He started his senior career late, at 21, with Guarani in Brazil's Série B. Two seasons that went nowhere at Santos followed, then a move to Grêmio. In 2009, after a string of monumental misses in a Copa Libertadores tie, Mundo Deportivo called him the worst striker in the world. 2010 was the season that got him noticed. He won the Campeonato Gaúcho and scored 42 goals in 65 games. Then came the move to Europe, to Valencia, and his Brazil debut. He was Soldado's strike partner and spent two and a half years in his shadow. In his fourth season, having started as an undisputed first choice, he was dropped to the bench after the winter break in favour of a much younger Paco Alcácer.
The fans appreciated him; the board didn't. In 2014 his contract was terminated. Wanted by Spurs as well, Jonas ended up at Benfica as a free agent, long after the transfer window had shut. Nobody expected what came next. From provider and attacking midfielder, he turned into a goal machine and became the unlikely replacement for the legendary Óscar Cardozo, who had left the club that summer. Jorge Jesus moved him into the middle of the attack, and "Jonas Pistolas" scored 31 goals in 35 games in his first season, winning the league and the League Cup. He was no one-season wonder. Three more titles followed, two cups and two Super Cups.
Long-range shots, lobs, volleys, headers. The Luz saw them all in the five years Jonas was the idol of the stands. He was a different kind of footballer from today's super-athletes. Slow, but extremely intelligent. His impeccable technique was matched by an exceptional shot.
He came to be loved even by rival fans, who recognised that they were watching a player who raised the level of the domestic league — and a man with a rare work ethic. He ended his Portuguese adventure with 137 goals and 42 assists in 183 games, the second-highest-scoring foreign player in the club's history. His was the name I always saw in the Golden Boot race. The "worst striker in the world" was fighting for the trophy with Messi, Ronaldo and Suárez. He also became hugely popular through the FIFA series, where he had a remarkable number of cards in Ultimate Team.
He had a year left on his contract, but chose to retire at 35 because of recurring back injuries. In 2019 he said goodbye to football in a friendly against Anderlecht, leaving a huge void on the pitch and in the hearts of Portuguese supporters. He still keeps close ties with the club, appearing regularly on Benfica TV.