The forward quickly proved what a good player he is. He scored against his former team in the 3rd minute of added time to earn his new club a priceless point, and he did it with a brilliant free kick.
It had long been clear that Talisca was a classy forward. With the few chances he got at Benfica, the Brazilian scored against Bayern Munich and Zenit in the previous season’s Champions League. The 22-year-old also scored 12 goals in 2 seasons for Benfica in the Portuguese league, despite being used mostly as a substitute.
It is not only about his goals. Talisca has excellent technique, can keep the ball for his team and is very quick. The forward had already been called up to the Brazilian national team, a sign that his talent was widely recognised.
Given the situation of the Brazilian national team, it would be no surprise if Tite called Talisca up again. Brazil had plenty of good players, but apart from Neymar none of the calibre of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. Talisca looked capable of soon becoming a regular in the Brazil first team.
Besiktas had every reason to be pleased to have Talisca in their squad. The Turkish club made a very good choice, and it would be no wonder if they retained their league title and reached the knockout stage of the Champions League.
From Bahia to Lisbon
Anderson Souza Conceicao, known as Talisca, was born in Feira de Santana on 1 February 1994. He came through the youth system at Bahia, made his debut against Corinthians on 7 July 2013 and scored in his very next match, against Sao Paulo. He won the 2014 Campeonato Baiano before Benfica signed him on 5 July 2014 for €4.75 million.
His time in Lisbon was short on starts but rich in moments, and it began with a goal on his first appearance, in the Taça de Honra semi-final against Estoril on 18 July 2014. He scored the only goal against Monaco in the Champions League group stage on 4 November 2014, and he scored Benfica’s winning goal in the second leg of the 2015-16 Round of 16 tie against Zenit. He also collected two Primeira Liga titles, in 2014-15 and 2015-16, two League Cups and the 2014 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
The loan and what followed
Talisca joined Besiktas on 24 August 2016 on a two-year loan, with a fee of €2 million for the first season. The free kick against Benfica came on 13 September 2016, in the 1-1 Champions League draw at the Estadio da Luz, and at the end of that season Besiktas won the 2016-17 Super Lig.
The prediction of a regular place in the Brazil team did not come true. Tite called him up in March 2018, as Dunga had done in November 2014, but Talisca did not play on either occasion and won no senior caps, although he had won the 2013 Toulon Tournament with Brazil’s under-20 side and later played for the under-23 team. His club career took him to Guangzhou Evergrande, on loan from June 2018 and then permanently for €19.2 million, where he won the 2019 Chinese Super League. He later joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in May 2021 and returned to Turkey with Fenerbahce in January 2025, making his league debut for the club on 2 February 2025 and winning the Turkish Super Cup with them later that year.
Questions people ask
What is Talisca's full name?
Talisca's full name is Anderson Souza Conceicao. He was born on 1 February 1994 in Feira de Santana, Brazil, and came through the youth ranks at Bahia.
When did Talisca score against Benfica for Besiktas?
Talisca scored an added-time free kick against Benfica on 13 September 2016, in a 1-1 Champions League draw at the Estadio da Luz. He had joined Besiktas on loan from Benfica on 24 August 2016.
Did Talisca play for the Brazil national team?
Talisca was called up by Dunga in November 2014 and by Tite in March 2018, but he did not play in either squad and won no senior caps. He did win the 2013 Toulon Tournament with Brazil's under-20 team.
Did Besiktas win the league with Talisca?
Yes. Besiktas won the 2016-17 Super Lig title during the first season of Talisca's two-year loan from Benfica.