The Making of Tomas Araujo: Exploring His Inspiring Background

Why is Tomas Araujo destined for greatness? The answer lies in faith and perfect timing. As the iconic Pepe approached the twilight of his career, Portuguese football fans eagerly hoped for a worthy successor. Their prayers were answered with the emergence of Tomás Araújo, a rising star poised to carry the legacy forward. From a young age, Tomás’ passion for football was undeniable, and it didn’t take long for those around him to notice his potential. His older brother, Luís, was the first to recognize Tomás’ talent during their childhood games at home. That moment marked the beginning of the journey of a Portuguese defensive gem, and today, we’re excited to share his story.

The Making of Tomás Araújo: Family, Football, and Dreams

The Making of Tomás Araújo: Family, Football, and Dreams

In Tomás’s family, football was a big deal. Every weekend, his parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles, and aunts played football together. These games were always full of fun and laughter. For Tomás, they were also like practice. Playing with his family helped him improve, and he loved football even more.

Tomás’s brother remembers those happy times. He says, “We played football every weekend. Our family is so big, there were always many people to join the game (laughs). Tomás was always the best player!” Those fun family games were just the beginning of Tomás’s big football adventure.

Nonetheless, Tomás’s parents worked hard to help him follow his dream. They had busy jobs but still found time to take him and his siblings to football practice daily. Sometimes, they didn’t get home until very late at night. Even when they were tired, they never stopped helping their kids.

Because of his family’s love and support, Tomás learned to work hard and never give up. Now, with his family cheering him on, he’s ready to become a star in the world of football. The image illustrates steady growth and success in the footballer’s career.

From a Dreaming Child to a Rising Star: A Journey Through Tomás Araújo’s Life.

From a Dreaming Child to a Rising Star: A Journey Through Tomás Araújo’s Life. Image Credits: ZeroZero, IG@tomasaraujo72

Inside his Childhood:

Tomás Lemos Araújo was born on the 16th of May 2002 to his parents – his Father, Araujo, and his mother, Lemos, in Portugal.

The centre-back is the family’s second child, along with his older brother. As we advance in Tomas Araujo’s biography, we know that the family supported their child’s future in the game.

Growing-Up Years:

Tomás Araújo grew up in a happy town called Vila Nova de Famalicão, where his family gave him lots of love and support. He started playing football at home, and his family quickly saw how good he was with the ball. First, his brother Luís noticed his skills, and later, a football club called SC Braga also saw his talent.

Behold Tomas Araujo's childhood with his brother.

Behold Tomas Araujo’s childhood with his brother. Image Credit: Zerozero

On weekends, Tomás Araujo’s family always played football together. His mom and dad had many brothers, cousins, and other family members, so there were always many people to join the games. These fun matches helped the little future star improve at football and made him love the sport even more.

Tomas Araujo’s brother remembers those days and says, “We played football every weekend. Our family is big, so there were always lots of people to play with (laughs). The Portuguese player was always outstanding.” In this happy family full of football fun, Tomás learned and grew, ready to chase his dreams in the game he loved.

Tomas Araujo Family Background:

The young Wall grew up in a loving, hardworking family that did everything possible to help him follow his football dreams. Tomas Araujo’s parents had regular jobs, working from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Even though they were busy, they always made time to take care of Tomás and his brothers and sisters.

Every day after work, Snr Araujo and Lemos picked the kids up from school and drove them to football practice. This made their days very long, and they often didn’t get home until late at night, sometimes at 10:00 pm or 11:00 pm. Even then, they still had to cook dinner and do other chores.

Sometimes, Tomás and his brother had football practice at different times, which made things even harder for their parents. But no matter how busy or tired they were, they never stopped helping their kids.

Tomas Araujo Family Orijin:

So far, we know that the centre-back was born in Vila Nova de Famalicão. Research also indicates that Tomas Araujo’s parents are of Portuguese nationality. What do we know about his birthplace?

Tomas Arajuo's hometown in Famalicao

Tomas Arajuo’s hometown in Famalicao. Source: Google Maps

Vila Nova de Famalicão, or just Famalicão, is a town in Portugal. It is in the Braga District, and part of Vale do Ave. The city has been around for a very long time. It was created in 1205 when King Sancho gave it a special paper called a charter.

Many great Portuguese footballers grew up close to Vila Nova de Famalicão. Bruno Fernandes, from Maia, is just 30 minutes away by car. Rúben Neves, from Mozelos, and Diogo Jota, from Massarelos, Porto, are also nearby, taking 45 minutes and 40 minutes to drive.

Bernardo Silva and Ricardo Pereira are both from Lisbon, about 3.5 hours away. Fábio Silva, from Gondomar, is just 40 minutes away. These distances show how some of these football stars lived near Vila Nova de Famalicão, making it a special place connected to amazing football players.

Tomas Araujo Early Football Stories:

The eager athlete’s journey into football began in the modest yet supportive environment of Operário Futebol Clube in Famalicão, where he first took steps in the sport. Surrounded by his family, including his older brother who played for the same club,” His love for football was nurtured during weekend games with his extended family, and it didn’t take long for his talent to shine. His brother was the first to recognize his potential, and soon after, SC Braga spotted his skill.

Tomás’s early years saw him play for Palmeiras FC, a secondary team under SC Braga’s partnership, which gave him a platform to play in the National Championship. At Palmeiras, he began to stand out, showcasing the talent that would eventually catch the eye of Benfica.

The childhood Career of the young Arajuo. Can you Spot him among his teammates?

The childhood Career of the young Arajuo. Can you Spot him among his teammates? Images: ZeroZero

Though Braga initially recruited him, Tomás never played for their first team. Instead, after a year at Palmeiras, he joined Geração Benfica in Famalicão, where he continued his development while staying close to home. His impressive performances led him to leap to Benfica’s famous Seixal Academy, where his career began to take off.

Rise to Fame:

Becoming a part of Benfica B shows how much work the centre-back had put into place. On the 19th of September, 2020, Arajuo helped the team win 6–0 against Casa Pia in Liga Portugal 2.

The reliable defender’s first goal as a professional player came on the 16th of January, 2021, in a 2–2 draw with Académica de Coimbra. The Águias club saw his talent and gave him a new contract on the 2nd of March, 2021. By the 15th of December, 2021, he played with top players like Enzo Fernandez (CM), João Neves (DM), António Silva (CB), and Carlos Vinícius in Benfica’s main team.

In the 2022–23 season, Tomás went on loan to Gil Vicente to gain experience. He scored his first Primeira Liga goal on the 5th of March, 2023, in a win over Marítimo. His strong performances earned him a new contract with Benfica until 2028.

In the 2023–24 season, the solid tackler played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time, filling in as a right-back against Inter Milan. He also scored his first goal for Benfica on the 14th of April, 2024, but hurt his ankle and missed the rest of the season.

The 2024–25 season was a big step for Tomás. With a new coach, Bruno Lage, he became a starter for Benfica and helped the team win 4–0 against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on the 2nd of October, 2024. The coach liked Tomás’s great passing, speed, and ability to play in different positions. His strong play earned him the Defender of the Month award in November 2024, proving he is one of the best defenders in the league.

Representing his Country Club:

Tomás Araújo played for Portugal’s under-17 team in 2019 at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Ireland. On the 24th of March 24, 2023, the backline anchor played his first game for Portugal’s under-21 team. He started in a 2–0 friendly win against Romania. In June 2023, he joined the team for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

On the 8th of October, 2024, Tomás was called up to Portugal’s senior national team for the first time. He replaced Gonçalo Inácio, who was injured, for UEFA Nations League games against Poland and Croatia. The son of the soil played his first game for the senior team on the 18th of November, 2024, starting in a 1–1 draw against Croatia. By then, Portugal had already finished first in their group. The rest is history, they said.

Who is Inês Pereira?

Tomas Araújo and Inês Pereira seem to have a very strong and happy relationship. They like to keep things private and don’t share much about their love story. However, from the pictures on social media, you can tell they enjoy spending time together. Whether going on trips or relaxing at home, they look like they care about each other.

Meet Inês Pereira: Tomás Araújo’s Girlfriend.

Meet Inês Pereira: Tomás Araújo’s Girlfriend. Credit: Instagram@tomasaraujo72

Inês is a big part of Tomas’s life and supports him as he works hard in his football career. The footballer’s wag helps him feel happy and calm, even when things get busy. They don’t share much with the world, but they greatly trust and care for each other. Tomas values his football and the people he loves, and Inês is one of those special people.

Personal Life:

The former Juventus player, Tomas Araújo, doesn’t share much about his personal life and keeps things private. But if you look closely, you can see he has a kind heart. The Portuguese-born star loves helping others and spends some of his free time visiting children in hospitals. He goes to the pediatric wards to make the kids smile and bring them happiness. This shows how much he cares about others, not just about playing football.

The Other Side of the centre back that is off the field.

The Other Side of the centre-back is off the field. Visuals: Instagram@benfiquista.ate.morrer87

Tomas was born under the zodiac sign Sagittarius. People with this sign are known for being kind, favourable, and wanting to help others. Tomas shows these traits through his visits and how he allows his community. Famous footballers like Karim Benzema and Dani Alves are also Sagittarius.

Tomas Araujo Family Life:

The defensive maestro talked about how his family had been standing by him all his life. From Tomas Araujo’s parents to his brother and the sacrifices they’ve made individually to cater to his career, this section will reveal more about the ones who have been his backbone.

About Tomas Araujo’s Father:

Snr Araújo was a real superhero. After a long day at work, when most people would want to rest and eat, his day wasn’t done. He would go straight from work to pick up his children from the training centre. Then, he drove them to football practice. Every day. No matter if it was raining or sunny.

Can you imagine how tired he must have been? Working all day from morning to evening, then spending hours driving around. By the time they got home, it was really late, sometimes 10 or 11 at night. But even then, he didn’t stop. There was still dinner to make and other things to do at home.

Do you know what’s amazing about that? He did it because he believed in Tomás and his dreams. He wanted Tomás to play football and get better every day. That’s what parents do—they work hard so their kids can have a chance to follow their dreams.

About Tomas Araujo’s Mother:

Lemos Arajuo was the real MVP of her son’s journey. Like many parents, she worked regular jobs with her husband from morning to evening. But their hard work didn’t stop when the clock hit 5:00 pm. That’s when their second job—being the ultimate support system—kicked in.

After work, some nights, they wouldn’t get back home until 10:00 or even 11:00 pm. Can you imagine that? After all those long hours, Tomas Araujo’s mother had to cook dinner and finish their other chores.

Why did they go through all that effort? Because they believed in Tomás’s dream. They saw his love for football and wanted to give him every chance to succeed, even if it meant giving up their free time. That’s love right there.

Even after her youngest son’s football dream came to pass, the family had to travel far to visit the young baller. However, no matter the distance between them, Tomas Arajuo’s mother made sure her child always felt loved and not neglected.

About Tomas Araujo’s Brother:

Luís played an essential role in helping him become a great football player. From the start, Tomas Araujo’s brother noticed how good the last child in the home was with a football. They would spend weekends playing together with family and cousins, cheered him on, and made him feel confident about his talent.

When Tomás moved to Lisbon to play football, things changed for the family. Luís often missed his brother, especially on weekends when they usually spent time together. It wasn’t easy, but Luís and his parents visited Tomás frequently. They travelled to Lisbon every two weeks to watch his games and spend time with him.

Even when they couldn’t always be there, Luís stayed connected to Tomás. He knew Tomás had tough times and felt bad he couldn’t always help. But as the older brother, the love and care he showed to the centre back made a big difference.

By cheering him on, visiting him, and always being there in spirit, Luís helped Tomás become the fantastic footballer he is today. He showed what it means to be a great brother!

Untold Facts:

This section delves deeper into the biography of Tomás Araújo, offering additional insights that highlight why the centre-back continues to captivate the attention of his fans and admirers.

Tomas Araujo’s FC25:

Portugal’s defensive gem is a great defender because he knows how to stop the other team from scoring. Araujo understands where the ball is going and gets in the right place to prevent the other players. Moreo, his tackles, takes the ball away from other players without hurting them.

The Centre back's skills as analysed by Sofifa

The centre-back’s skills, as analysed by Sofifa. Credit: SOFIFA

Tomás has unique skills that help him even more. He can “Jockey,” which means he can follow players closely and stop them from getting past him. The centre-back also knows when to “Intercept,” cutting off passes from the other team before they can reach anyone. Plus, he’s intense in the air, which helps him win the ball when it’s kicked high up into the sky.

In simple terms, Tomás plays like some of the best defenders in the world, like Ruben Dias and Matthijs de Ligt. He’s smart about where he stands, strong when jumping to get the ball, and always focused. If he keeps improving, the second child of the Araujo family could be one of the best defenders!

Is Tomas Araujo and Henrique Araujo Related?

Tomás Araújo and Henrique Araújo are not brothers. Even though they play for the same football team, Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Tomás plays as a defender, and Henrique, on the other hand, plays forward.

Henrique and Tomas are not not brothers but former Teammates.

Henrique and Tomas are not brothers but play in the same club. Visuals: SlBenfica, FootballTalentScout

Even though they are not brothers, they are teammates. They played together in a crucial match in the UEFA Youth League 2021/22 Final, where they celebrated a goal together.

Although they share the Benfica teammates, who share the same nationality and surname, they have entirely different birthplaces. They both bring something unique to the team but in various ways. As earlier noted in this bio, the centre-back’s brother is Luis Araujo.

Tomas Araujo’s Salary:

The centre-back for Sport Lisboa e Benfica earns €31,346 each week. However, some of his teammates make much more. Renato Sanches, a player who can play as a central midfielder, earns €133,077 a week, making him among the highest-paid players. Gonçalo Guedes, known for his speed and skill with the ball, earns about €124,670 each week. Nicolás Otamendi, an experienced centre-back, gets €78,090 weekly, and Kerem Akturkoglu, a talented winger, makes €55,385. Meanwhile, Ángel Di María goes home with €74,170 weekly.

The Salary Structure of Benfica as stated by Capology

A Look at Benfica’s Salary Structure: Where Tomás Araújo Ranks Among the Earners. Image Credit: Capology

End Note:

Tomás Lemos Araújo was born on the 16th of May 2002 to his parents – his Father, Araujo, and his mother, Lemos, in Portugal. The eager athlete’s journey into football began in the modest yet supportive environment of Operário Futebol Clube in Famalicão, where he first took his steps in the sport.

At Palmeiras, he began to stand out, showcasing the talent that would eventually catch the eye of Benfica. Though Braga initially recruited him, Tomás never played for their first team. Instead, after a year at Palmeiras, he joined Geração Benfica in Famalicão, where he continued his development while staying close to home. His impressive performances led him to leap to Benfica’s famous Seixal Academy, where his career began to take off.

Becoming a part of Benfica B shows how much work the centre-back had put into place. On the 19th of September, 2020, Arajuo helped the team win 6–0 against Casa Pia in Liga Portugal 2. The reliable defender’s first goal as a professional player came on the 16th of January, 2021, in a 2–2 draw with Académica de Coimbra. The Águias club saw his talent and gave him a new contract on the 2nd of March, 2021.

In the 2022–23 season, Tomás went on loan to Gil Vicente to gain experience. He scored his first Primeira Liga goal on the 5th of March, 2023, in a win over Marítimo. His strong performances earned him a new contract with Benfica until 2028. In the 2023–24 season, the solid tackler played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time, filling in as a right-back against Inter Milan.

The 2024–25 season was a big step for Tomás as he became a Ruben Amorim admirer that season. With a new coach, Bruno Lage, he became a starter for Benfica and helped the team win 4–0 against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on the 2nd of October, 2024. The coach liked Tomás’s great passing, speed, and ability to play in different positions. His impressive performances earned him the Defender of the Month award in November 2024, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s top defenders. Given Manchester United’s history of strong ties to Portuguese players, it was no surprise that Araújo became the subject of intense transfer speculation following his breakout year in 2024.

Gratitude:

Thank you for taking the time to read about Tomás Araújo’s journey in football. We work hard to bring you true and interesting stories about young talents, just like we’ve done with players such as Dean Huijsen and Pierre Kalulu.

If you notice anything that doesn’t seem right in this article about Tomás Araújo, please let us know. We’d also love to hear what you think about his career and story—don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments section!

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