In January 2011, Jardel joined Portuguese club S.L. Benfica for a €500,000 transfer fee, replacing Chelsea-bound David Luiz. After two months of sporadic appearances, then manager Jorge Jesus dropped Sidnei and immediately inserted Jardel into the first team's starting lineup. On 28 April, he scored his first goal for the Lisbon side, in a 2–1 home win against S.C Braga for the campaign's UEFA Europa League semi-finals, He finished his first season with 16 appearances and won his first piece of silverware; on 1 May on his return to the Estádio José Arcanjo in Olhão, he was sent off in a 1–1 draw. The following season, Jardel made 18 appearances, serving mostly as backup to Luisão and Ezequiel Garay. He started the 2012–13 season with Benfica's reserves in division two. After Luisão's two-month suspension, however, he was propelled directly into the first team's starting XI. During the 2013–14 season, like his 2011–12 season, he made 18 appearances, serving backup to Luisão and Garay. However, he enjoyed success as the club won the domestic treble. After the departure of Ezequiel Garay to Zenit Saint Petersburg, Jardel became a mainstay in Benfica's starting lineup. On 4 January 2015, Jardel scored his first goal for Benfica in the Primeira Liga, away at F.C. Penafiel. On 8 February 2015, Jardel scored a crucial last-minute goal to tie the Derby de Lisboa in the Primeira Liga. He helped the club win their second straight Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga In the 2015–16 season, Jardel enjoyed his best ever season, appearing in 44 games and scoring 5 goals. He played alongside three different centre backs, Luisão, Lisandro López and Victor Lindelöf, during the variation of the season. He scored the winner against Vitória de Setúbal at the Estádio da Luz in the first half, securing Benfica's lead in the Primeira Liga. For the third straight season, he won the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga. Jardel's 2016–17 season was injury plagued, picking up a series of nagging injuries throughout the campaign. In the following season, he regained his starting position after the departure of Lindelöf to Manchester United. On 3 February 2018, he made his 200th appearance for the club and was elected man of the match after a goal and assist in a 5–1 home win against Rio Ave. In September 2018, Jardel became club captain upon the retirement of long-serving compatriot Luisão, and extended his contract by a further year to 2021. He played 19 games as the Eagles regained the title from FC Portoon the last day, including one with a straight red card for elbowing Arsénio in a 3–1 home loss to Moreirense F.C. on 2 November.
