Famous Portuguese Football Players

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Portuguese football player, Cristiano Ronaldo, is one of the world's highest-paid athletes. He is a versatile attacker capable of playing on either wing as well as through the center of the pitch. He has the distinction of being the first European to score 100 international goals.

When it comes to great football managers, Jose Mourinho’s name comes right at the top. He is regarded as one of the most tactfully brilliant managers ever, even though his defensive style has at times been criticised. He has had great stints with Premier League clubs like Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Portuguese footballer Bernardo Silva, who began his career with Benfica and then moved on to AS Monaco, now represents Manchester City as an attacking midfielder, or winger. Best known for his dribbling skills, he has won 4 Premier League titles with Manchester City and a UEFA Nations League with Portugal.

Ricardo Quaresma is a Portuguese football player best known for his tricks, such as the rabona and curl. He played for Portugal from 2003 to 2018, during which he represented his team at three European Championships, including UEFA Euro 2016, which Portugal won. Ricardo Quaresma was named Primeira Liga Player of the Year in 2006.   

Brazilian-born-Portuguese retired professional footballer Deco, who mainly played as an attacking or central midfielder, is counted among the best players of his time. During his illustrious playing career, he achieved several feats including winning UEFA Champions League with and receiving UEFA Best Midfielder Award from two clubs, Porto and Barcelona. Following his football career, Deco started the D20 Sports agency.

Rui Patricio is a Portuguese football player who plays as a goalkeeper. He was part of the national team that won the UEFA European Football Championship title in 2016. He also helped his team win the UEFA Nations League in 2019. Rui Patricio has also represented his country in two World Cups.

Nani is a Portuguese football player who represented the national team from 2006 to 2017. He played an important role in Portugal's victory at the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship. Nani was also an important player for Manchester United, winning the Premier League four times and the UEFA Champions League in 2008.

Retired Portuguese professional football player Ricardo Carvalho, who played as a centre back, is counted among the best defenders of his generation. Carvalho played with several professional football clubs besides the Portugal national team. His achievements include winning three Premier League titles with Chelsea; one La Liga with Real Madrid; and the 2016 UEFA European Championship with his national team.

Considered one of the most successful African-origin footballers of all time, Eusébio, or the Black Panther, was born in the Portuguese Mozambique and grew up to represent the Portuguese national team as a striker. He also had a great stint with the club Benfica, having won the Primeira Liga with them 11 times.

William Carvalho is a Portuguese football player who plays for the Portugal national team. He has represented his country in two European Championships and two World Cups. In 2016, he helped Portugal win the UEFA European Football Championship title. William Carvalho was also part of the team that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019.

José Fonte is a Portuguese football player who plays as a defender for the Portugal national team. He was part of the national team that won the UEFA European Football Championship title in 2016 as well as the UEFA Nations League in 2019. José Fonte also represented his nation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  

Cédric Soares is a Portuguese football player who plays as a defender for the Portugal national team. He was part of the team that won the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship and also represented Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Apart from his national team, Cédric Soares is also currently a part of the Arsenal Football Club.

Pepe is a football player who plays for the Portugal national team and FC Porto. Counted among the leading defenders of his generation, Pepe played important roles in Portugal's championship-winning performances in the 2016 UEFA European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League. He was named Süper Lig Defender of the Year in 2018.

Retired Portuguese footballer Bruno Alves who played as a center-back for teams such as Porto and Zenit Saint Petersburg, now leads the Greek club AEK Athens as its sporting director. He has also won a UEFA European Championship with the Portuguese national team and is a Commander of the Order of Merit.

Considered one of the greatest footballers of his generation, Portuguese football legend Rui Costa now leads the club Benfica as its president. He began his career as a midfielder with Benfica and then had a successful stint with AC Milan, too, winning the UEFA Champions League with the latter.

Portuguese footballer Renato Sanches had a difficult childhood, and though born in 1997, had his birth registered in 2002. Starting his career with Benfica, the talented midfielder moved on to Bayern Munich and now represents the French club Lille. He became the youngest Portuguese international player and the youngest to win UEFA Euro.

Raphaël Guerreiro is a Portuguese football player who plays for the Portugal national team. He was part of the team that won the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League. Raphaël Guerreiro also represented his national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship.

Portuguese footballer Rafael Leao began his youth career with Amora and then moved on to teams such as Sporting CP in his senior career. He now represents AC Milan as a winger and is known for his versatility and technical knowledge. He is also known as the Portuguese Mbappe.

André Gomes is a Portuguese football player who plays for the Portugal national team. In 2016, he helped his country win the UEFA European Football Championship title. André Gomes has also represented popular clubs like Barcelona and Benfica and is currently an important member of the Everton Football Club.

Retired Portuguese footballer Nuno Espírito Santo has had a successful career as a goalkeeper with teams such as Porto and Deportivo. As a manager, later, he has won an EFL Championship with the Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has also managed Tottenham Hotspur, while in 2022, he joined the Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad.

Portuguese football central-midfielder João Moutinho, ComM, presently plays for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portugal national team. His illustrious career so far has seen him achieve several feats including winning Primeira Liga with FC Porto three times in a row; Ligue 1 with Monaco; and 2016 UEFA European Championship and 2019 UEFA Nations League with his national team

Eder is a Portuguese football player who plays as a forward. He represented the Portugal national team from 2012 to 2018 and helped the team win the UEFA European Championship in 2016. Eder has also played for clubs like Braga and Lokomotiv Moscow. 

Jorge Jesus is a Portuguese former football player who played as a midfielder. He is best known as a manager, having achieved success with clubs like Benfica and Flamengo. In 2013 and 2019, Jorge Jesus was named among the top 10 club coaches in the world by IFFHS. He is currently managing Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü.

Raul Meireles is a Portuguese retired football player who played as a midfielder for the national team in many European Championships and two World Cups between 2006 and 2014. Raul Meireles is best known for winning the 2012 UEFA Champions League while playing for Chelsea.  

Diogo Jota is a Portuguese football player who plays for the popular Premier League club, Liverpool. Before signing with Liverpool, Diogo Jota played for other popular teams like Atlético Madrid and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jota is also a prominent member of the Portugal national team.

Born in Portuguese Mozambique, Carlos Queiroz had an uneventful career as a footballer but later soared to fame as a coach. Apart from winning 2 FIFA World Youth Championships with the Portuguese U-20 team, he has also coached teams such as Iran and Egypt and clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Nélson Semedo is a Portuguese football player who plays as a defender for the Portugal national team. He was part of the national team that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019. Best known for his speed and dribbling skills, Nélson Semedo helped Benfica win the Primeira Liga in 2016 and 2017. He is currently playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Fabio Coentrao  is a Portuguese footballer. He plays for professional football club Rio Ave, mainly as a left-back. He also plays as a winger and defensive midfielder. He is a member of the Portuguese national team as well and represented the nation in two World Cups. He announced his retirement in early 2020 but has since made a comeback. 

Portuguese football manager Paulo Sousa started his playing career as a defensive midfielder with Benfica and later had successful stints with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. As a coach, he has led the Polish national team and several clubs and is now associated with the Brazilian club Flamengo.

Portuguese footballer Nuno Tavares started his career with the youth teams of Sporting CP and Benfica, and moved on to teams such as Arsenal later. He has won the 2019 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira with Benfica and now plays as a left-back for Marseille on loan.

Paulo Bento is a Portuguese former football player who played as a midfielder. Known for his tackling ability, Bento played for his national team in important tournaments such as the 2000 UEFA European Football Championship and the 2002 World Cup. After retiring as a player, Bento became a football manager and is the current manager of South Korea's national team.

Simão Sabrosa is a Portuguese retired football player who was known for his dribbling skills. He represented his country in two European Championships and two World Cups. Simão Sabrosa also played for clubs like Benfica, winning the Primeira Liga with the club in 2005.

Born in Brazil, Matheus Nunes moved to Portugal at age 12. While he initially worked in his family’s bakery, he soon joined the team Ericeirense and later won a Primeira Liga with Sporting CP. He refused Brazil’s call to join their national team and joined the Portuguese national team instead.

Nuno Gomes is a Portuguese retired football player who played as a striker. He achieved popularity in the 1990s and 2000s as one of Portugal's prolific goalscorers. Gomes played for his national team in three European Championships and two World Cups. Nuno Gomes was also an important player for Benfica, winning the Primeira Liga on two occasions. 

Portuguese footballer Adrien Silva was 18 when he made his professional debut. Starting his youth career with Bordeaux, he later had successful stints with Sporting CP, Leicester City, and Maccabi Haifa. He also won the UEFA European Championship with the Portuguese national team. He is a Commander of the Order of Merit, too.

Portuguese footballer Otávio who is known as an attacking midfielder/winger for Porto, began his senior career with the Brazilian club Internacional. The Brazilian-born sports star joined the Portuguese club Porto B in 2014 and later became a Portuguese citizen and represented the Portuguese national team.

Bebé is a football player who plays as a midfielder for Rayo Vallecano and Cape Verde national team. He has also played for popular clubs like Benfica and was part of the Primeira Liga-winning team in 2015.  

Born in Guinea-Bissau, footballer Ronaldo Vieira grew up in Portugal, where he played for the youth teams of clubs such as Benfica. He later moved to England, where he joined Leeds United. He later switched to the Italian club Sampdoria. He was named the 2016-17 Leeds United Young Player of the Year.

Hugo Almeida is a Portuguese retired football player who played as a forward. He represented the national team in two World Cups and two European Championships. He also played for popular clubs like Porto, winning the Primeira Liga in 2004 and 2006 with the club.

Born in France, to a Portuguese father and a French mother, Portuguese footballer Anthony Lopes joined Lyon’s youth team at age 9 and later had a successful senior career as a goalkeeper with Lyon. He also won the 2016 UEFA European Championship for the Portuguese national team.

Apart from representing the club Porto, Portuguese footballer Sérgio Conceição has also played for the Italian clubs Lazio and Inter Milan. He has been part of clubs in Kuwait, Belgium, and Greece, too. As a manager, he has helped Porto win 3 Primeira Liga titles, apart from other championships.

Retired Portuguese footballer Carlos Carvalhal started his playing career with Braga and then went on to represent teams such as Porto and Espinho. As a manager, he has represented numerous teams, such as Swansea City. He is known for his witty and rhetorical answers to interviewers’ questions.

Maniche is a Portuguese former football player who played as a midfielder. He represented the national team from 2003 to 2009 and helped the team finish second in the 2004 UEFA European Championship. Maniche also played for Porto and helped the team win two Primeira Liga titles, UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup in 2004.

Tiago Mendes is a Portuguese former football player who helped his national team finish second at the 2004 UEFA European Championship. He also represented his country in two World Cups during his playing career. Tiago Mendes also had success with clubs like Chelsea and Atlético Madrid, winning the Premier League in 2005 with the former club.

Hélder Postiga is a Portuguese former football player who played as a striker. He played for his national team from 2003 to 2014 and helped the team reach the finals of the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship. He also represented his nation in two World Cups. Hélder Postiga also played for Porto, winning the Primeira Liga in 2003 and 2007.

Danny is a Portuguese retired football player who played as a midfielder for popular teams like Marítimo, Zenit St. Petersburg, and Dynamo Moscow. He helped Zenit win the UEFA Super Cup in 2008 and the Russian Football Premier League in 2010, 2012, and 2015. Danny also represented the Portugal national team from 2008 to 2016.

Sérgio Oliveira is a Portuguese football player who plays for the Galatasaray Spor Kulübü as a central midfielder. He has also had success with teams like FC Porto and PAOK FC. Sérgio Oliveira also plays for the Portugal national team.