 After an impressive season, in which he did not miss one match as the Madeira side qualified to the UEFA Cup (notably scoring against his former team, in a 2–0 away win), he was bought by S.L.Benfica on 22 August 2006, having previously been voted the league's best defender by newspaper Record.Midway through 2007–08, after having managed just three appearances in Portuguese League Cup, being barred by former Brazilian international Léo, Miguelito joined S.C. Braga in January, on loan.