The Portuguese nation is deeply rooted in soccer tradition and has gifted the world with a remarkable lineup of soccer legends, each leaving a solid footprint on the history of the beautiful game.
Despite its modest size of 10 million people, Portugal has managed to produce some of the greatest soccer players ever seen.
What sets Portuguese players apart is their renowned technique and skill, coupled with an impressive blend of strength and stamina, often leading to greatness on the pitch.
Assessing these players solely through the lens of the Portuguese league wouldn’t do justice to their true impact.
Instead, focusing on their success in prestigious competitions like the European Cup provides a more meaningful measure, with clubs like Benfica, Porto, and Sporting Lisbon making their mark in the tournament’s history.
International tournaments serve as a valuable yardstick for comparing players across different eras.
Portugal’s commendable performances in the 1966 World Cup (finishing 3rd), Euro 1984 (reaching the semi-final), the period from 2000 to 2006 (Euro 2000 semi-final, Euro 2004 runner-up, World Cup 2006 4th place), and 2012 to 2016 (Euro 2012 semi-final, Euro 2016 champion) highlight their consistent presence among football’s elite.
In this article, we’ll pay homage to the extraordinary talents who have proudly worn the Portuguese jersey.
- 1. Cristiano Ronaldo (205 caps – 128 goals)
- 2. Eusébio (64 caps – 42 goals)
- 3. Luís Figo (127 caps – 32 goals)
- 4. Rui Costa (94 caps – 26 goals)
- 5. Fernando Peyroteo (20 caps – 14 goals)
- 6. Mario Coluna (57 caps – 8 goals)
- 7. Paulo Futre (41 caps – 6 goals)
- 8. Vitor Baia (80 caps – 0 goals)
- 9. Deco (75 caps – 19 goals)
- 10. Ricardo Carvalho (89 caps – 5 goals)
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (205 caps – 128 goals)
Cristiano Ronaldo is a record-breaking soccer legend who has left a significant imprint on the sport. Holding the record of the top scorer in Champions League history and having the most international goals, Ronaldo stands as the highest goalscorer of all time.
In the Champions League, Ronaldo’s dominance is unparalleled.
He owns records for the most games, wins, goals, and assists in the tournament. Particularly, he is also the top scorer in the history of Real Madrid, with a remarkable goal-scoring feat in the European Championship.
Ronaldo’s achievements go beyond club success.
He is the only player to win league, Champions League, European Golden Boot, and Ballon d’Or victories with two different clubs.
With five Ballon d’Or and four Golden Boot awards, Ronaldo has consistently been recognized as one of the best players in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.
The Champions League has been Ronaldo’s playground, winning the top scorer title an unmatched seven times.
His overall performance in the competition is staggering, with 183 matches played, 140 goals scored, and 42 assists – setting records in both goals and assists.
Ronaldo’s career kicked off at Sporting before a significant move to Manchester United, where he spent six seasons, winning nine major trophies, including three league titles and a Champions League title. During this stint, he played 292 games and scored 118 goals.
However, it was in Madrid that Ronaldo reached his height.
As a Real Madrid player from 2009 to 2018, he crafted his name in history with an incredible 450 goals in 438 appearances. Ronaldo’s time with Los Blancos saw him win 15 major trophies, including four Champions League titles.
A brief stint at Juventus added two Serie A titles to Ronaldo’s collection, with 134 matches played and 101 goals scored. His outstanding performances earned him the Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2019 and 2020.
On the international stage, Ronaldo’s impact is equally profound.
With 205 caps for the national team and 128 goals, he holds the record for the most international goals. Ronaldo led Portugal to victory in the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League.
In the pantheon of Portuguese soccer greats and the broader history of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo stands tall as one of the best.
His legacy is not only defined by records but by the sheer brilliance and consistency that makes him one of the greatest players in the history of soccer.
2. Eusébio (64 caps – 42 goals)
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, known as the “Black Panther,” stands as a timeless symbol of Portugal’s soccer legacy.
Eusébio is not only one of the greatest strikers in football history but also ranks among the best Portuguese players ever, earning the status of the biggest legend in Benfica’s rich history.
His remarkable career unfolded majorly at Benfica, where he dedicated fourteen years, from 1961 to 1975.
During this period, Eusébio played a key role in winning 29 major trophies for Benfica, including 11 league titles and a European Cup.
His total of 440 matches for the club saw him score an astounding 473 goals, firmly establishing him as the all-time top scorer in Benfica’s history.
Eusébio’s soccer abilities extended beyond domestic success, making him the Portuguese league’s top scorer seven times, the European Cup’s top scorer thrice, and the recipient of the European Golden Boot on two occasions.
His outstanding performances earned him the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 1965, with second-place finishes in 1962 and 1966.
As one of the best Portuguese footballers, Eusébio made significant contributions to the national team, playing 64 matches and scoring 41 goals.
His goal-scoring prowess led Portugal to a third-place finish in the 1966 World Cup, where he not only showcased his talent but also secured the World Cup Golden Boot with an impressive 9 goals in the tournament.
3. Luís Figo (127 caps – 32 goals)
Luis Figo, a renowned soccer player known for his artistic style on the field, showcased a special combination of skill, flair, and vision.
Among Portuguese footballers, only three have ever won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, and Luis Figo is proud to be one of them, solidifying his status as one of the greatest Portuguese players in history.
Throughout his football journey, Figo played for four clubs: Sporting, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan. He started his career with Sporting in the late eighties, spending six years with the club before joining Barcelona in 1995.
Figo’s time in Barcelona spanned five successful years in the nineties, where he played a major role in the team’s victories, winning seven major trophies, including two La Liga titles and one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup title.
In 2000, Figo made a controversial move to Barcelona’s rival, Real Madrid.
During his five-year stint with Real Madrid, Figo played a key role in the Galacticos project and added seven major trophies to his impressive collection, including two La Liga titles and one Champions League title.
His 106 assists in La Liga remain a record, second only to Lionel Messi.
In the later years of his career, Luis Figo joined Inter Milan, where he spent four seasons and won the league title each year. His outstanding contributions led to him being named the Inter Milan Player of the Year in 2006.
On the international stage, Figo earned 127 caps and scored 32 goals for the Portuguese national team. Despite playing as a winger, he holds the impressive position of being the fourth all-time top scorer for Portugal.
4. Rui Costa (94 caps – 26 goals)
Rui Costa, a highly regarded Portuguese midfielder, became well-known as a maestro orchestrating plays from the center of the field.
Considered one of the greatest playmakers in the history of football and among the top Portuguese players ever, Rui Costa was celebrated for his superb technique, outstanding vision, and unmatched creativity.
Throughout his career, Rui Costa played for clubs like Benfica, Fiorentina, and AC Milan. Starting as an attacking midfielder with Benfica, he helped the team secure a league title.
At just 21, Rui Costa joined Fiorentina, where he spent seven years and formed a memorable partnership with Gabriel Batistuta. Winning the Coppa Italia twice, he earned a spot in Fiorentina’s all-time XI in 2016.
In 2001, Rui Costa moved to AC Milan, contributing to the team’s success for five years.
He won six major trophies with Milan, including Serie A and Champions League titles, marking his place in one of football’s finest teams.
On the international stage, Rui Costa earned 94 caps and scored 26 goals for the Portuguese national team. Remarkably, he ranks as the seventh all-time top scorer for Portugal.
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5. Fernando Peyroteo (20 caps – 14 goals)
Fernando Peyroteo, often overlooked in the shadow of more recent soccer stars, deserves a special spot in Portugal’s soccer history.
In a time when scoring goals was incredibly often, Peyroteo stands out as one of the most prolific goal-scorers ever. His goal-scoring feats with Sporting CP were truly legendary, boasting an incredible average of more than one goal per game.
He was part of Sporting from 1937 to 1949, making a significant impact as a prolific goalscorer.
Across 334 matches with Sporting, he scored an impressive 544 goals, making him the all-time top scorer in the Portuguese league.
Fernando Peyroteo secured 11 major trophies with Sporting, including five league titles, and became the top scorer in the Portuguese league on six occasions.
On the international stage, Peyroteo played 20 games for Portugal FC, netting 14 goals.
6. Mario Coluna (57 caps – 8 goals)
Mario Coluna stands as one of the greatest legends in Benfica’s history and is counted among the best Portuguese players of all time.
A midfielder by position, Coluna dedicated most of his career to Benfica, spanning from 1954 to 1970.
His tenure was marked by remarkable success, winning 18 major trophies with Benfica, including ten league titles and two European Cup titles. Coluna’s contribution to the team included playing 518 matches, making him one of the top players in club history, with only three players having more appearances.
Known for his high-class midfield skills, Coluna possessed a composed playing style, taking charge of the game through precise passes.
His ability to read the game, exceptional vision, accurate passes, and leadership on the field were standout qualities for this Portuguese midfielder.
As one of the finest Portuguese footballers, Coluna earned 57 caps for the national team and scored 8 goals.
His stellar performances contributed to his status as one of the all-time best players for the Portuguese national team. Coluna particularly shone in the 1966 World Cup, guiding Portugal to a third-place finish in the tournament.
7. Paulo Futre (41 caps – 6 goals)
Paulo Futre is among the all-time best Portuguese players in soccer.
Primarily a left winger, Futre played for several clubs, including Sporting, Porto, Benfica, West Ham, and Atletico Madrid. His stint with Porto from 1984 to 1987 was particularly noteworthy, winning the European Cup with the club in 1987.
However, the peak of Paulo Futre’s career occurred during his time at Atletico Madrid from 1987 to 1993.
This period marked his success as one of the top Portuguese players in La Liga. Futre achieved significant milestones, winning the Copa Del Rey twice with Atletico Madrid and scoring 52 goals in 205 matches for the club.
On the international stage, Paulo Futre represented Portugal in 41 matches, scoring 6 goals. He also played for the Portugal national football team in the 1986 World Cup.
In 1987, Futre’s outstanding performances earned him second place in the Ballon d’Or ranking, narrowly behind Ruud Gullit.
8. Vitor Baia (80 caps – 0 goals)
Vitor Baia is one of the most successful goalkeepers in the history of football and stands among Portugal’s best players of all time.
The majority of Baia’s football career happened at Porto, where he played an impressive 566 matches for the club.
Second only to Joao Pinto in appearances for Porto, Baia holds a significant place in the team’s history. His time with Porto saw him win an amazing 26 major trophies, including ten league titles, one UEFA Cup title, and one Champions League title.
In addition to his success at Porto, Vitor Baia spent two seasons with Barcelona in the late nineties, securing five major trophies with the club. This included a league title and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup title.
On the international stage, Baia earned 80 caps for the national team.
He represented Portugal in notable tournaments such as UEFA EURO 1996, UEFA EURO 2000, and the 2002 World Cup as a valuable member of the Portugal FC.
9. Deco (75 caps – 19 goals)
Deco, originally Anderson Luís de Souza, was a player who seamlessly embraced both Portuguese and Brazilian soccer styles.
Becoming a central figure in Portugal’s midfield, Deco blended Brazilian flair with Portuguese nationality.
His remarkable ability to control the game, deliver precise passes, and score important goals made Deco a vital asset for the Portuguese national team and the clubs he played for, including FC Porto and Barcelona.
Recognized as one of the top midfielders of his generation, Deco holds a place among the best Portuguese players of all time.
From 1999 to 2004, Deco was with Porto, winning the Champions League in 2004 and earning the Man of the Match in the final against Monaco.
In the 2003-04 season, he was named the Portuguese League Footballer of the Year and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year.
Moving on to Barcelona from 2004 to 2008, Deco won two La Liga titles and a Champions League title, playing a pivotal role in Frank Rijkaard’s team.
Later, during his two-season stint with Chelsea, Deco contributed to winning a Premier League title and two FA Cup titles.
In 2004, Deco achieved the second position in the Ballon d’Or ranking, narrowly trailing behind Andriy Shevchenko.
10. Ricardo Carvalho (89 caps – 5 goals)
Ricardo Carvalho kicked off his career at Porto as a defender, playing for the team from 1997 to 2004.
He was a favorite player of Jose Mourinho, during his time at Porto, Carvalho won seven major trophies, including a UEFA Cup title in 2003 and a Champions League title in 2004.
His outstanding performance earned him the title of UEFA Defender of the Year in the 2003-04 season.
Joining forces with Mourinho, Carvalho moved to Chelsea and stayed there from 2004 to 2010. He played a significant role in winning 10 major trophies for Chelsea, including three Premier League titles, establishing himself as one of the key players during that era.
When Mourinho transitioned to Real Madrid, he brought Ricardo Carvalho along. Playing for Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, Carvalho added three trophies to his collection, including a La Liga title.
On the international stage, Ricardo Carvalho earned 89 caps for the national team, scoring 5 goals.
He represented Portugal in the UEFA Euro 2004, earning a spot in the tournament’s team of the tournament. Although Portugal finished as the runner-up, losing to Greece in the final, Carvalho’s contributions were acknowledged.
Other Greatest Portuguese Soccer Players In History
- Quaresma
- Joao Moutinho
- Pauleta
- Fernando Couto
- Paulo Sousa
- Fernando Gomes
- Maniche
- Jose Aguas
- Bernardo Silva
- Pepe
- Nene
- Nani
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