A campaign director for João Noronha Lopes, a candidate for the presidency of Portuguese football club Benfica, has publicly declared Lopes will not withdraw from a potential second round of voting, signaling an unwavering commitment to the race.
Vasco Mendonça, who leads Lopes’s campaign, made the assertion on the social media platform X. His statement pushed back against any speculation that his candidate might concede ahead of a runoff election.
“If you think anyone will give up anything, it’s because you don’t know the man well. Let’s move forward,” Mendonça posted on X on October 26, 2025.
If you think anyone will give up anything, it’s because you don’t know the man well. Let’s move forward.
— Vasco Mendonça (@vasco_mendonca) October 26, 2025
The firm declaration suggests a potentially competitive election for the leadership of the Lisbon-based football giant. A second round of voting typically occurs if no candidate secures an outright majority in the initial ballot.