Gilson Benchimol

Gilson Benchimol
	Benchimol with Akron Tolyatti in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Gilson Benchimol Tavares
Date of birth	29 December 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth	Praia, Cape Verde
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position	Striker
Team information
Current team	Akron Tolyatti
Number	7
Youth career
2009–2012	Damaiense
2012–2014	CR Foot
2014–2015	Linda-a-Velha
2015–2016	Real SC
2016–2020	Damaiense
2020–2021	Estoril
Senior career*
Years	Team
2021–2024	Estoril
2023–2024	→ Benfica B (loan)
2024–	Akron Tolyatti
International career‡
2020–	Cape Verde
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 October 2026; ‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 September 2026

Gilson Benchimol Tavares (Portuguese: [ˈʒil.sɔn bẽ.ʃi.ˈmɔl ta.ˈva.ɾɨʃ]; born 29 December 2001) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a striker for Russian club Akron Tolyatti and the Cape Verde national team.

Club career

On 22 July 2024, Benchimol signed a long-term contract with Russian Premier League club Akron Tolyatti.

Benchimol debuted for the Cape Verde national team in a 2–1 friendly loss to Guinea on 10 October 2020. He scored a hat-trick in a game against the Liechtenstein national football team on 25 March 2022.

He was named in the roster for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations when the team reached the round of 16.

On 18 May 2026, he was called up by Cape Verde's head coach Bubista for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As of match played 9 October 2026

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Estoril	2021–22	Primeira Liga	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	2022–23	Primeira Liga	11	0	2	0	3	0	—		15	0
	Total		12	0	2	0	4	0	0	0	17	0
Benfica B (loan)	2022–23	Liga Portugal 2	16	3	—		—		—		16	3
	2023–24	Liga Portugal 2	15	5	—		—		—		15	5
	Total		31	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	31	8
Akron Togliatti	2024–25	Russian Premier League	19	2	6	0	—		—		25	2
	2025–26	Russian Premier League	20	6	4	4	—		2	2	26	12
	2026–27	Russian Premier League	10	4	2	0	—		—		12	4
	Total		49	12	12	4	0	0	2	2	63	18
Career total			92	20	14	4	4	0	2	2	112	26

As of match played 29 September 2026

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Cape Verde	2020	1	0
	2021	4	0
	2022	2	3
	2023	3	1
	2024	11	1
	2026	5	2
Total		26	7

Scores and results list Cape Verde's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Gilson Benchimol
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	25 March 2022	Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain	Liechtenstein	1–0	6–0	Friendly
2.				3–0
3.				4–0
4.	10 September 2023	Kégué Stadium, Lomé, Togo	Togo	2–0	3–2	2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5.	22 January 2024	Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast	Egypt	1–0	2–2	2023 Africa Cup of Nations
6.	31 May 2026	Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal	Serbia	3–0	3–0	Friendly
7.	29 September 2026	Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde, Praia, Cape Verde	Rwanda	1–0	1–2	2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification