Portugal National Football Team: Everything You Need to Know About the Players and Their Experiences
The Portugal national football team is one of the most successful and popular teams in the world of soccer. The team has represented Portugal in international men’s football competition since 1921 and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal’s home matches are played at various stadiums throughout Portugal, and its primary training ground and technical headquarters, Cidade do Futebol, is located in Oeiras. The head coach of the team is Roberto Martínez and the captain is Cristiano Ronaldo, who also holds the team records for most caps and most goals.
Portugal’s first participation in a major tournament finals was at the 1966 World Cup, which saw a team featuring Ballon d’Or winner Eusébio finish in third place. Portugal also made it to the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 1984, losing to hosts and eventual winners France. Under the team’s first golden generation in the 1990s, Portugal began consistently featuring in the European Championship and World Cup; they made the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup, finishing in fourth place, along with placing as runners-up at Euro 2004 as hosts, and reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2000 and Euro 2012. This was in great part due to the production of several players, such as Luís Figo, Rui Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Here is the list of players who are part of the Portugal national football team as of September 2023:
| Player Name | Age | Experience | Role in the Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 38 | 180 caps, 111 goals | Centre-forward, captain, leader, scorer |
| Rui Patrício | 35 | 96 caps | Goalkeeper, vice-captain, shot-stopper, organizer |
| João Cancelo | 29 | 32 caps, 4 goals | Right-back or left-back, defender, attacker, crosser |
| Rúben Dias | 26 | 37 caps, 3 goals | Centre-back, defender, aerial threat, ball-player |
| Pepe | 39 | 117 caps, 8 goals | Centre-back, defender, veteran, enforcer |
| Raphaël Guerreiro | 29 | 47 caps, 7 goals | Left-back or midfielder, defender, attacker, set-piece taker |
| Danilo Pereira | 32 | 51 caps, 3 goals | Defensive midfielder or centre-back, defender, midfielder, destroyer |
| Bruno Fernandes | 29 | 38 caps, 6 goals | Attacking midfielder or second striker, midfielder, attacker, playmaker |
| Bernardo Silva | 29 | 62 caps, 8 goals | Attacking midfielder or winger, midfielder, attacker, dribbler |
| Diogo Jota | 26 | 19 caps, 10 goals | Forward or winger, attacker, scorer, presser |
| João Félix | 23 | 25 caps, 5 goals | Forward or attacking midfielder, attacker, scorer, creator |
Portugal’s greatest achievement came in 2016, when they won their first major trophy: the UEFA European Championship. In a remarkable campaign, Portugal overcame France in the final with an extra-time goal from Éder, after Ronaldo had been injured early in the match. Portugal also became the inaugural champions of the UEFA Nations League in 2019, beating the Netherlands in the final with a goal from Gonçalo Guedes. Portugal also qualified for their eighth consecutive European Championship in 2024, topping their group with a record-breaking 9-0 win over Luxembourg, which was also their biggest win in their history.
Portugal’s current squad is composed of some of the best players in the world, such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Diogo Jota, João Félix, and of course, Ronaldo. The team is known for its attractive and attacking style of play, as well as its resilience and spirit. Portugal is ranked ninth in the FIFA World Ranking as of July 2023 and is considered one of the favorites to win the upcoming Euro 2024. Portugal is a team of champions that always strives to make its fans proud.
