João Mário: defended for Benfica.

Title: João Mário defends Benfica's success

João Mário, the Portuguese midfielder, has been praised by many for his performances this season. His ability to play as a left-back and his goal-scoring record have earned him widespread admiration.

The 28-year-old midfielder was named in Portugal's squad for the World Cup last year, but he did not feature in any matches due to injury. However, he returned to action during the international break and played a key role in helping Portugal reach the quarter-finals.

In the final match of the tournament, Portugal faced Argentina in the semi-final. The game was close until the last minute,Premier League Updates with both teams having equal chances before a penalty shootout ended up in favor of Portugal.

Mário was one of those players who stepped up and scored the winning goal. He made a diving header from the penalty spot that beat goalkeeper Diego Godín and sent the pitch into chaos.

"It's always exciting when you can score a goal," said Mário after the match. "It's important to perform well and give our best effort on the field."

He went on to praise his teammates for their support throughout the tournament. "I'm very grateful for the support I've received from my teammates. They helped me out a lot and I couldn't have done it without them," he added.

Mário's performance has earned him a place in Portugal's national team. He is confident that he will continue to be a valuable player for the club next season. "We need to keep improving each day," he said. "If we're going to win the title, we'll need to work hard every day."

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