Portugal National Team—Portugal is one of the strongest names in World football. It has been consecutively participating in the football World Cup since 2002. Portugal has provided the greatest footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Eusébio and Rui Costa to the soccer world.
2016 Euro champion Portugal has qualified eight times in the FIFA World Cup. In the Qatar World Cup qualifier, it defeated North Macedonia in the regional playoff finals from the European region and made it into the Winter World Cup. Let’s know about the Portuguese football history, playing squad, and greatest players of all time.
Brief History of Portugal Football
Early History
The Portuguese were interested in football in the early 1910s. Their official football journey began in 1914 after forming the football federation of Portugal (União Portuguesa de Futebol). The same year, the First World War broke out and Portugal needed to wait seven years to play international matches.
In 1921, the Portuguese team played their debut international match, losing to Spain 3-1. Later in 1928, Portugal participated in the Olympics and reached the quarter-finals.
But, Portugal did not receive an invitation to represent in the inaugural World Cup (1930). Likewise, Portugal did not qualify for the two World Cups before WWII (Second World War). Then, it qualified for the eighth edition of the World Cup in 1966. The Portuguese team ended third in the competition.
UEFA History
Portugal is one of the founding members of UEFA formed in 1954. But, it waited until the sixth season to qualify for the championship. Portugal qualified for the Euro Cup for the first time in 1984. It reached the semifinals of the tournament but in the semifinals lost a match to eventual winner France. Then, it missed two Euro Championships. In the 1996 Euro Cup, Portugal qualified but could not surpass the quarter-finals.
In the 2000 Euro Cup, it replicated the same result of 1984 and finished fourth. Finally, in the 2004 Euro, the Portuguese team’s game improved after onboarding the future star Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal then reached the finals of the tournament held in their home country. But, in the finals, Greece defeated and took away Portugal’s chance to become a European Champion.
Then, it continuously qualified for the tournament to the 2020 edition. Finally, in 2016, Portugal made history and won the Euro Championship finals for the first time. In the final match, the Portuguese team defeated the French team and bagged the tournament trophy. Furthermore, in the 2020 Euro Cup, it went home after the round of 16 stages.
Other Competition
Portugal has a poor score in the Olympic Games. last time in 1996, it finished fourth and since then it has not reached the semifinals of the game. In 2017, Portugal earned a bronze medal in the FIFA Confederation Cup. Likewise, in 2019, it won the first season of the UEFA Nations League. In the finals, it defeated the Netherlands.
Portugal’s FIFA World Cup History
Portugal has an average score in World Cup football, and it has seen a rise and fall in the soccer World Cup. In the twentieth century, it only qualified for two times out of 16 World Cups. The Portuguese team qualified for the first time at the 1966 World Cup.
That time, it reached the semifinals of the tournament and lost the semifinals against the eventual winner England. During that tournament, Portuguese player Eusébio scored nine goals and won the Golden Boot.
But after the tournament, Portugal’s fall started, and it took two decades to qualify for the tournament. But, their fall could not be reduced, and they did not qualify for the entire twentieth-century tournament.
But, in the early 21st Century, Portuguese football’s graph started rising as they have never missed any World Cups since 2002 to date. After Cristiano Ronaldo has on board it reached the semifinals of the tournament in the 2006 World Cup.
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Even though they are considered the powerhouse of football they have not won the tournament title as of 2022. This time, they will appear in the field to break this record and lift the trophy.
Top 5 Greatest Portuguese Footballers of all Time
Portugal has provided many of the greatest footballers in World football. There are more than a dozen greatest footballers who shined not only in the national team but also in club matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time. Ronaldo is a forward of Portugal’s national team and EPL giant Manchester United. He debuted in the national team in 2003 and played the first Euro Championship in 2004.
He is a multiple-record holder player who has played 189 caps for the nation. Ronaldo is one of the few players to have made more than 1000 professional career appearances.
He has scored over 800 official senior goals for the club and country. Ronaldo is often called a goal machine by his fans. The top scorer of Portugal Ronaldo has scored 117 goals in his 189 caps.
During his 18-year-long career journey, he has won 32 trophies for the club and the nation. Ronaldo also has won five Ballon D’Or awards as of 2022.
Ronaldo has also received honorific awards from the Royal Family of Portugal. His honor included the Medal of Merit, Grand Officer of Prince Henry, and Commander of the Order of Merit.
Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira is a former Portuguese striker. He is also one of the greatest footballers of all time and Benfica’s greatest player. During his professional career, he played 745 matches and scored 733 goals. His fans used to call him the Black Panther.
Eusébio is the only Portuguese striker to score nine goals in a single World Cup (1966). He was the first footballer to win the European Golden Boot in 1968. In November 2003, at UEFA’s Jubilee, the Portuguese football federation named him the Golden Player of the nation for his outstanding contribution. He died on 5 January 2014 aged 71 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Luis Figo
Luis Figo is another of the greatest footballers of all time who was provided to the world football by Portugal. He played as a winger for Sporting CP, Spanish giants; Real Madrid and Barcelona, and Italian Serie A club, Inter Milan.
He made 127 appearances for the national team from 1991 to 2006. Figo led Portugal to win the U16 Euro Championship in 1989, and the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1991. Similarly, UEFA Euro Championship runner-up in 2004. Luis also earned the Ballon d’Or in 2000.
He also earned the honorable Officer award from Prince Henry. He is the third-highest scorer and fourth-highest caps player in Portugal.
Rui Costa
Rui Manuel César Costa is one of the greatest Portuguese footballers of all time. He is the current president of the Portuguese club S.L. Benfica. Costa is one of the best attacking midfielders in world football of his generation.
He spent seventeen years in his top-flight career in Benfica, Florentina, and AC Milan. From 1993-2004, he played for the national team and made 94 appearances. Costa has also received an honorable order from the Royal Family of Portugal. Costa played three Euro Cups and one World Cup as a part of the national team.
Pepe
Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira aka Pepe is a Brazilian born Portuguese footballer. He is one of the best defenders and one of the greatest Portuguese footballers of all time. He is the third-highest scorer of the team with 128 goals in his 128 appearances.
Pepe has been playing for the national team since 2007. During his prolific career, Pepe played three World Cups and four Euro Championships, and he was a member of the winning team of the 2016 Euro. Pepe currently plays for FC Porto, and previously he played for Real Madrid, Beşiktaş, and Marítimo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Qatar World Cup 2022 Portugal Squad
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Portugal earned 17 points and finished second behind Serbia of Group G from the UEFA Confederation. Portugal then advanced to the semifinals and defeated Turkey in the semifinals. Likewise, it defeated North Macedonia in the play-off finals and reserved the seat for Qatar World Cup.
In the Qatar World Cup, Portugal will be in Group H along with Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea.
The Portuguese team will meet South African nation Ghana in their first match on 24 November 2022 at Stadium 974, Doha. The World Cup’s inaugural match of Qatar versus Ecuador will take place on 20 November 2022.
The Portuguese team will be led by Manager Fernando Santos and captain Cristiano Ronaldo in the Winter World Cup. The Portuguese team is full of star players and will do their best to bag the title of the World Championship. Fernando Santos has been leading the Portuguese team since 2014.
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Portugal will play a couple of UEFA Nations League group stage matches and friendly matches before the World Cup begins. In October 2022, Portugal will announce the World Cup playing squad.
