Christmas arrives early in Lisbon!

Portugal's most widely supported football club, Lisbon-based Benfica, asked its fans Thursday to attend a weekend match dressed up as Santa Claus as part of its centenary celebrations.

The club expects 15,000 people will answer the call and set a world record for the biggest-ever gathering of Santas, it said in a statement posted on its Internet site.

The current record of 2,685 Santas was set at a parade in Sweden in 2002, the club said.

To make it easier for fans to take part in the initiative the club will have complete Santa outfits -- including red suit and hat as well as a fake white beard -- for sale at its 65,000-seat stadium for 10 euros (13.4 dollars).

Three officials from the Guinness Book of Records will attend the club's match against Penafiel on Saturday to determine if a new record is set.

Benfica, whose club colours are red and white like Santa's uniform, claims to have over five million supporters around the world and is Portugal's historically most titled football club although it has not won a title since 1994. The club currently trails first place Boavista by two points.