Portugal Players has become better at football over the years, and they showed this by winning Euro 2016.
Now, Portugal’s team is one of the top picks to win Euro 2020, showing their progress. Cristiano Ronaldo has been very important to their success, along with many other talented players who all help in different ways.
Portugal has made some amazing footballers, some of whom are considered the best ever.
Let’s look at the top 5 Portuguese players of all time.
5. Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Carvalho, a top defender from Portugal, had a great career playing for clubs and his national team.
He first gained recognition playing for Porto under coach Jose Mourinho. Later, he joined Mourinho again at Chelsea, where he played 210 games. He was known for his strong partnership with John Terry in defense. Carvalho was praised for his ability to predict plays and stay calm under pressure.
For Portugal, Carvalho played in 89 matches and was part of the team that won the Euros in 2016. He retired in 2017 after a brief time with Shanghai SIPG. Recently, he has been working as an assistant coach at Marseille, a club in France.
ALSO READ: Here are the 5 greatest captains in Barcelona’s history.
4. Pepe
Pepe was born in Brazil and has had a big impact on Portuguese football and the clubs he’s played for. At 38 years old, he’s currently back playing for Porto, his second time there. Pepe played 334 games for Real Madrid in all competitions and was considered one of the world’s best defenders in his prime. Known for his aggressive style, Pepe has been involved in controversies for his rough play.
He now plays for Portugal in Euro 2020, likely starting alongside Ruben Dias. Pepe has played 115 games for Portugal and was important in their Euro 2016 win.
3. Luis Figo
Luis Figo’s move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 is well-known for causing controversy, but it’s clear he’s one of Portugal’s greatest players ever.
Figo started his career with Sporting CP before joining Barcelona in 1995. He played 248 games for Barcelona, scoring 45 goals and making 51 assists, establishing himself as one of the world’s best players. Figo was a skilled and stylish player who could play in various attacking positions.
He represented Portugal 127 times, scoring 32 goals. Figo led Portugal to the Euro 2004 finals, where they unexpectedly lost to Greece. He retired in 2009 after a successful stint with Inter Milan at the age of 48.
2. Eusebio
Many people consider Eusebio one of the best footballers ever. He scored a lot of goals and was very famous worldwide.
Eusebio played most of his career for Benfica, where he is thought of as their greatest player. He played 440 games and scored 473 goals for them. Eusebio won the Primeira Liga title 11 times with Benfica.
He was also amazing for Portugal. In 64 games for the national team, Eusebio scored 41 goals. He helped Portugal finish 3rd in the 1966 World Cup and was the top scorer of the tournament.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal’s best football player, Cristiano Ronaldo, keeps breaking records. At 36 years old, he’s still playing great. He had a fantastic season with Juventus, scoring 29 goals in 33 league games. Even though Juventus finished fourth, Ronaldo is a legend in Portugal. He proved it by helping Portugal win Euro 2016. Now, Portugal is one of the top teams in Euro 2020, and Ronaldo will play a big role. He’s Portugal’s most experienced player and has scored more goals than anyone else in their history.
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