Pedro Benito

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Pedro Benito

| image =

| fullname = Pedro Alberto Benito Ponomar

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Cádiz, Spain

| height = 1.82m

| currentclub = Murcia

| clubnumber = 9

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = 2005–2008 | youthclubs1 = El Puerto de Santa María

| youthyears2 = 2008–2012 | youthclubs2 = Pavía

| youthyears3 = 2012–2014 | youthclubs3 = Almería

| youthyears4 = 2014–2015 | youthclubs4 = Swansea City

| youthyears5 = 2015–2016 | youthclubs5 = Almería

| youthyears6 = 2016 | youthclubs6 = Anorthosis Famagusta

| youthyears7 = 2016–2017 | youthclubs7 = Pavía

| youthyears8 = 2017–2018 | youthclubs8 = Canillas

| collegeyears1 = 2018 | college1 = Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles | collegecaps1 = | collegegoals1 =

| collegeyears2 = 2019 | college2 = GW Runnin' Bulldogs | collegecaps2 = 19 | collegegoals2 = 5

| years1 = 2017 | clubs1 = Pavía | caps1 = 9 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2020–2021 | clubs2 = UCAM Murcia B | caps2 = 23 | goals2 = 13

| years3 = 2021–2022 | clubs3 = Cádiz B | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2021–2022 | clubs4 = Cádiz | caps4 = 1 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2022 | clubs5 = → San Fernando (loan) | caps5 = 22 | goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2022–2023 | clubs6 = SS Reyes | caps6 = 29 | goals6 = 6

| years7 = 2023–2024 | clubs7 = Albacete | caps7 = 7 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2024– | clubs8 = Murcia | caps8 = 21 | goals8 = 2

| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 18 February 2025

| ntupdate =

}}

Pedro Alberto Benito Ponomar (born 27 March 2000) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a forward for Real Murcia CF.

Club career

Born in Cádiz, Andalusia, Benito represented RCN El Puerto de Santa María, UD Pavía (two stints), UD Almería (two stints), Swansea City, Anorthosis Famagusta FC and CD Canillas as a youth.{{cite web|url=https://eldesmarque.com/cadiz/cadiz-cf/noticias-cadiz/175435-pedro-benito-un-youtuber-de-apellido-ilustre-que-suena-con-vestir-de-amarillo|title=Pedro Benito: un 'youtuber' de apellido ilustre que sueña con vestir de amarillo|trans-title=Pedro Benito: a 'youtuber' with a famous surname who dreams of wearing yellow|publisher=El Desmarque|language=es|date=4 March 2020|accessdate=3 October 2021}} In January 2018, after already making his senior debut with Pavía's first team in the regional leagues, he moved to the United States after accepting a Business Administration and Sport Management degree at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University.{{cite web|url=https://talentoydeporte.com/pedrito-beca-deportiva-de-futbol/|title=Otro talento rumbo a Estados Unidos|trans-title=Another talent towards the United States|publisher=Talento y Deporte|language=es|date=17 January 2018|accessdate=3 October 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://udpavia.com/una-perla-empezo-pavia-llega-usa/|title=Una Perla, que empezó en el Pavia, llega a USA|trans-title=A pearl, who started at Pavía, arrives in the US|publisher=UD Pavía|language=es|date=17 January 2018|accessdate=3 October 2021}}

After spending the 2018 season with Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles, Benito played the 2019 campaign for the Gardner–Webb University's Runnin' Bulldogs side.{{cite web|url=https://gwusports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/pedro-benito/7001|title=Pedro Benito|publisher=GWU Sports|accessdate=3 October 2021}} He returned to his home country in 2020, after joining UCAM Murcia CF's reserves in Tercera División.

On 27 May 2021, Benito signed a two-year deal with Cádiz CF, being initially assigned to the B-team in Segunda División RFEF.{{cite web|url=https://www.cadizcf.com/noticia/pedro-benito-refuerza-el-ataque-del-filial|title=Pedro Benito refuerza el ataque del filial|trans-title=Pedro Benito bolsters the attack of the reserves|publisher=Cádiz CF|language=es|date=27 May 2021|accessdate=3 October 2021}} He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 2 October, coming on as a second-half substitute for Álvaro Negredo in a 0–0 home draw against Valencia CF.{{cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/primera-division/cadiz-vs-valencia/cronica/2021/10/02/6158867d46163f8b0a8b45df.html|title=El Valencia se estrella ante Ledesma, en el reencuentro de Cala y Diakhaby|trans-title=Valencia crash against Ledesma, in the reunion of Cala and Diakhaby|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=2 October 2021|accessdate=3 October 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/cadiz/2021/10/03/615986a9e2704eb38e8b45de.html|title=El debut de Pedro Benito: un influencer cadista que cumple un sueño|trans-title=The debut of Pedro Benito: a cadista influencer who fulfils a dream|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=3 October 2021|accessdate=3 October 2021}}

On 30 November 2021, Benito was loaned to Primera División RFEF side San Fernando CD for the remainder of the season, effective as of the following January.{{cite web|url=https://www.cadizcf.com/noticia/pedro-benito-jugara-cedido-en-el-san-fernando|title=Pedro Benito jugará cedido en el San Fernando|trans-title=Pedro Benito will play on loan at San Fernando|publisher=Cádiz CF|language=es|date=30 November 2021|accessdate=23 March 2022}} On 2 July 2022, he signed for fellow third division side UD San Sebastián de los Reyes.{{cite web|url=https://ud-sanse.com/2022/07/pedro-benito-segundo-refuerzo-de-la-u-d-sanse-para-la-temporada-22-23/|title=Pedro Benito, segundo refuerzo de la U. D. Sanse para la temporada 22/23|trans-title=Pedro Benito, second addition of U.D. Sanse for the 22/23 season|publisher=UD SS Reyes|language=es|date=2 July 2022|accessdate=7 August 2022}}

On 19 June 2023, Benito signed a two-year contract with Albacete Balompié in Segunda División.{{cite web|url=https://www.albacetebalompie.es/noticias/pedro-benito-primer-refuerzo-del-albacete-balompie|title=Pedro Benito acepta el desafío|trans-title=Pedro Benito accepts the challenge|publisher=Albacete Balompié|language=es|date=19 June 2023|accessdate=19 June 2023}} After being rarely used, he terminated his link on 28 June of the following year,{{cite web|url=https://www.albacetebalompie.es/noticias/pedro-benito-y-el-albacete-balompie-separan-sus-caminos|title=Pedro Benito y el Albacete Balompié separan sus caminos|trans-title=Pedro Benito and Albacete Balompié split ways|publisher=Albacete Balompié|language=es|date=28 June 2024|accessdate=5 July 2024}} and joined third division side Real Murcia CF just hours later.{{cite web|url=https://www.realmurcia.es/pedro-benito-nuevo-fichaje-para-la-delantera-del-real-murcia/|title=Pedro Benito, nuevo fichaje para la delantera del Real Murcia|trans-title=Pedro Benito, new signing for the forward lines of Real Murcia|publisher=Real Murcia CF|language=es|date=28 June 2024|accessdate=5 July 2024}}

Personal life

Benito's father Alberto was also a footballer.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdigital.es/canal-amarillo/noticias-cadiz-cf/lvdi-alberto-benito-estoy-ilusionado-hijo-porque-currado-202105281657_noticia.html|title=Alberto Benito: "Estoy muy ilusionado por mi hijo porque se lo ha currado"|trans-title=Alberto Benito: "I am very excited for my son because he has done it"|publisher=La Voz Digital|language=es|date=28 May 2021|accessdate=3 October 2021}} A midfielder, he also played for Cádiz. His mother is Ukrainian.https://www.eldesmarque.com/cadiz/cadiz-cf/noticias-cadiz/195994-pedro-benito-y-su-relacion-con-la-guerra-de-ucrania-pendiente-de-kiev

A supporter of Cádiz, Benito is also a well-known personality on TikTok, having more than one million followers on his account.{{cite web|url=https://www.tiktok.com/@pedrobenito9|title=Pedro Benito (@pedrobenito9)|publisher=TikTok|accessdate=3 October 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/emisora/2021/01/27/radio_murcia/1611759967_798086.html|title=El secreto de Pedro Benito, el 'tiktoker' del UCAM Murcia CF con más de medio millón de seguidores|trans-title=The secret of Pedro Benito, the 'tiktoker' of UCAM Murcia CF with more than half a million followers|publisher=Cadena SER|language=es|date=27 January 2021|accessdate=3 October 2021}}

International career

He has expressed his interest in playing for the Ukraine national team.https://www.eldesmarque.com/cadiz/cadiz-cf/noticias-cadiz/195994-pedro-benito-y-su-relacion-con-la-guerra-de-ucrania-pendiente-de-kiev