The best Portuguese footballers in history

Who are the best Portuguese footballers of history?

It's a question that many fans ask themselves when seeing the Portuguese team in action. Portugal is a small country in southern Europe that barely exceeds 10,5 millions of inhabitants. Located on the shores of the Atlantic on the Iberian Peninsula, its football tradition begins in 1966, year in which he participated in a World Cup for the first time, reaching the semi-finals.

Finalist of the European Championship 2002, organized by Portugal, European champion of 2016 played in France and winner of the first edition of the Nations League in 2019, is one of the most historic national teams in Europe. A good reason to try to find out who the pillars of the Portuguese teams were.

The best Portuguese footballers in history

Cristiano Ronaldo

The man who broke all records in the history of Portugal. Cristiano has always been synonymous with ambition. His palmarès speaks for itself: ben 5 Golden Balls e, on a collective level with the Portuguese shirt, 1 European and 1 Nations League. He is the best Portuguese scorer ever, the player with the most appearances with the Portuguese shirt and the only one to have played and scored in 5 World Cup. Cristiano is undoubtedly the best Portuguese player in history.

Eusebius

The Mozambican Panther is another of the greats of Portuguese football. His performance against North Korea in the World Cup 1966 she is still remembered in the books of good football. Eusébio aveva goal, physicist, dribbling, speed, commitment and many other attributes. Con 41 gol in 64 matches, he is the third best scorer in Portuguese history. Furthermore, he had a spectacular role with Benfica, with which he became European champion. He is one of the best Portuguese footballers in history.

Luís Figo

At the beginning he was a fast winger with dribbling and great crossing ability. He later became a total player, capable of taking free kicks, play in the center, team up with teammates and score with ease. His sensational transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid for 60 million euros indicates how important it was. He is the most capped player for the Portuguese national team, con 127 matches in 15 years of service.

Paulo Futre

Many will remember this talent. Atlético Madrid loved him, but it was Porto who enjoyed the best of him. Spectacular goals (one of which won a European Cup), impossible games, he was a wizard with the ball, equipped with dribbling, speed, frenetic leadership and goals. A genius who played in the World Cup 1986 with Portugal, even though he only started one match. He is one of the best Portuguese footballers in history.

Rui Costa

Talent, imagination, finesse, class for one of the best attacking midfielders of the 90s. A champion who could have achieved more, but whose palmarès does not do justice to its greatness. He shared the stage with other great footballers, which may have tarnished his career.

Vitor Baía

Beauty and effectiveness or both. He failed at Barcelona, but at Porto he became the best goalkeeper in the world. Safe, good at going out, in direct comparisons. An excellent goalkeeper whose move to Barcelona was of little significance. He is the best goalkeeper in the history of Portugal.

Deco

The Brazilian-born Portuguese was a defensive and attacking midfielder with excellent free throw ability. An all-rounder who was a fundamental player in Barcelona and, Obviously, in the national team, with which he reached the final of the European Championship 2004. A great player indispensable in any top-level team.

Fernando Couto

In his place there could be Ricardo Carvalho, but Couto was slightly superior. Was 110 times international (the second ever), had greater insertion capacity, he was good at high balls, safe in defense, he knew how to set things up and had great leadership.

Pauleta

He was the best scorer in the history of the Portuguese national team with 46 goals until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed his record. Pauleta was nothing extraordinary, but he had a valuable quality in football: the goal. Opportunist, instinct for goal, a penalty area killer.

Simon Sabrosa

He was a good player, con dribbling, goals and ability to play on both flanks, but it didn't reach Figo's numbers, although it has improved as the years have passed.

Ricardo Quaresma

Cristiano Ronaldo's partner and one of the greatest exponents of a golden generation for Portuguese football. Quality, speed and power at the service of his country. A football globetrotter who failed to triumph at Barcelona. Quaresma is one of the best Portuguese footballers in history.

Ricardo Carvalho

Carvalho was a tough central defender with a long career in European football. It was the 'stopper’ of the Portuguese team for many years.

Pepe

His real name is Képler Laverán Lima Ferreira, but everyone knows him as Pepe. Born in Brazil but naturalized Portuguese, he is a legend of Portuguese football. More than 100 matches and 15 years in defense of the Portuguese national team. Pepe is considered one of the toughest footballers in history, but also one of the best in the history of Portugal.