Portugal All-Time XI: Cristiano Ronaldo leads legendary assault

By Editorial Team Last updated Jun 16, 2024

The Summer time of Stars kicks off on FOX with the European Championship in Germany and the United States-hosted Copa América. Each tournaments will characteristic the world’s greatest soccer gamers, however what number of of them are all-time nice gamers?

To reply that query, FOX Sports activities has put collectively 11 all-time worldwide groups. Up subsequent is Portugal.

***All-time stats and information for people talked about beneath check with males’s nationwide group solely

GK: Rui Patrício

Caps: 108
Notable golf equipment: Sporting CP, Wolverhampton, Roma

Vítor Baía is taken into account to be one of many biggest Portuguese goalkeepers of all-time. Baía is greatest recognized for profitable 26 titles with Porto, probably the most legendary membership within the Portuguese league. Nevertheless, Rui Patrício’s consistency and longevity in aim can’t be denied. He’s considered one of eight gamers ever to make 100 appearances for the nationwide group, and has recorded over 300 profession clear sheets, with over 50 of them coming for Portugal. Patrício was additionally the beginning goalkeeper for the 2016 group that received the Euros — Portugal’s solely time profitable the match — and was named because the beginning keeper for the Staff of the Match.

DF: Joáo Pinto

Caps: 70
Notable golf equipment: Porto

Having captained the nationwide group in 42 of his 70 appearances, Joáo Pinto is also known as Capitão, which interprets as “captain” in Portuguese. Pinto is taken into account one of many biggest Portuguese proper backs of all-time, having spent his complete 16-year profession with Porto and main them to 9 Portuguese league titles and the 1987 European Cup championship. Throughout that span he made 587 appearances for the membership, nonetheless probably the most of any participant in Porto historical past. He additionally led Portugual to a bronze medal within the 1984 Euros, and was chosen as a part of the Staff of the Match that yr. Bobby Robson, a former supervisor for the England nationwide group as effectively Barcelona, Newcastle United and Porto, is quoted as saying, “He has two hearts and 4 legs. It is extraordinarily tough to discover a participant like him.”

DF: Pepe

Caps: 136
Notable golf equipment: Porto, Actual Madrid, Besiktas

Solely two gamers have made extra appearances for the nationwide group than Pepe, and the 41-year-old’s presence has grow to be such a fixture for Portugal that he has been named to the 2024 Euros roster as effectively. Arguably the best defender in Portugal’s historical past, Pepe was one of many world’s greatest middle backs for an extended stretch within the 2010s. Most notably, he made 334 appearances for Actual Madrid from 2007 to 2017, profitable 13 main trophies in that span, together with three Champions League titles. Pepe was additionally a starter on the 2016 Portugal squad that received the Euros, in addition to the 2019 group that received the UEFA Nations League. Within the 2022 World Cup, he scored within the Spherical of 16, changing into the oldest participant to ever rating within the knockout stage of the World Cup at 39 years previous.

DF: Ricardo Carvahlo

Caps: 89
Notable golf equipment: Porto, Chelsea, Actual Madrid, Monaco

Considered one of ten gamers ever with 89 appearances for the Portuguese nationwide group, Ricardo Carvalho is among the most embellished defenders in Portugal’s historical past. He made 277 mixed appearances for Chelsea and Actual Madrid, in addition to 118 appearances for Monaco (all competitions). In the course of the 2004 season, he was voted to the UEFA Staff of the Yr, UEFA Euros Staff of the Match, and likewise chosen because the UEFA Greatest Membership Defender of the Yr. Two years later, he was chosen to the 2006 FIFA World Cup All-Star group for his position in main Portugal to the semifinals, tied for his or her farthest run ever. Carvalho was additionally a member of the 2016 aspect that received the Euros, and moreover led Chelsea to 3 Premier League titles from 2006 to 2010.

DF: Fernando Couto

Caps: 110
Notable golf equipment: Porto, Parma, Barcelona, Lazio

Considered one of six gamers ever with 110 appearances for the Portuguese nationwide group, Fernando was the primary participant of their historical past to achieve 100 caps for Portugal again in 2003. Throughout his time with Porto, Parma, Barcelona, and Lazio, he made a mixed 559 appearances (all competitions) and received the celebrated double (league title and home cup) in every of these three leagues. Couto additionally led Portugal to a runner-up end on the 2004 Euros, which was their greatest end within the match till their 2016 title run.

MF: Luís Figo

Caps: 127
Objectives: 32
Notable golf equipment: Sporting CP, Barcelona, Actual Madrid, Inter Milan

Considered one of three Portuguese gamers to ever win the coveted Ballon d’Or, Luís Figo is taken into account one of many biggest midfielders of the twenty first century. He retired in 2006 with 127 appearances for Portugal, which on the time was probably the most within the nationwide group’s historical past. His 32 targets for Portugal are the fourth most ever, with an extra 137 targets on the membership stage (all competitions) throughout his profession. Throughout his time with Actual Madrid’s Los Galacticos, he received La Liga Overseas Participant of the Yr in three consecutive years, and likewise led the league in assists twice in that span. Along with his Ballon d’Or win in 2000, he was additionally named as FIFA’s World Participant of the Yr in 2001. Figo was additionally named to Pelé’s listing of the 100 biggest dwelling footballers in 2004, and went on to guide the Champions League in assists that very same yr.

MF: Deco

Caps: 75
Objectives: 19
Notable golf equipment: Corinthians, Benfica, Porto, Barcelona, Chelsea, Fluminense

One of many few gamers to have received the UEFA Champions League with two totally different clubs- doing so with Porto and Barcelona- Deco was one of many mannequin center-midfielders of the mid-to-late 2000s. In 2004, he completed as runner-up for the Ballon d’Or, and was additionally the UEFA Champions League Man of the Match within the title recreation that very same yr. Like Couto, Deco received the double in three totally different leagues- doing so in Portugal (Porto), Spain (Barcelona), and England (Chelsea). A two-time UEFA Membership Midfielder of the Yr, he totaled 74 targets for the three aforementioned golf equipment from 1999 to 2010 (all competitions), and 19 targets in 75 appearances for Portugal.

MF: Rui Costa

Caps: 94
Objectives: 26
Notable golf equipment: Benfica, Fiorentina, AC Milan

Rui Costa is considered one of three Portuguese gamers ever to attain 25 targets for the nationwide group with at the very least 90 appearances. The opposite two? None apart from Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Nicknamed “The Maestro” for his unimaginable imaginative and prescient and playmaking means, Costa scored 61 targets as an attacking midfielder in 468 mixed appearances for Fiorentina and AC Milan- occurring to be chosen within the Serie A Staff of the Season a complete of thrice in that span. He additionally led the Champions League in assists within the 2002-03 marketing campaign, and moreover skilled comparable success with Portugal- occurring to be chosen as a part of the Euros Staff of the Match two occasions. When AC Milan signed him in 2001, they spent roughly €41 million on the transfer- breaking their document on the time.

FW: Cristiano Ronaldo

Caps: 206
Objectives: 128
Notable golf equipment: Sporting CP, Manchester United, Actual Madrid, Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo is among the biggest gamers of all time, it doesn’t matter what period you are taking a look at. His 5 Ballon d’Or wins are the second-most of any participant ever, trailing solely Lionel Messi who received it eight occasions. Within the 2022 World Cup, he turned the primary participant ever to attain in 5 totally different editions of the match, and likewise turned the fifth participant ever to look in 22 profession matches. “CR7” can also be Portugal’s all-time chief in appearances (206) and targets scored (128)- each the highest marks ever by a single participant in worldwide play. In response to the Worldwide Federation of Soccer Historical past and Statistics (IFFHS), Ronaldo has scored 893 targets on the membership and nation stage, which is probably the most of any participant ever. And to high it off, his listing of titles is sort of endless- three English Premier League titles, two La Liga titles, two Serie A titles, 5 Champions League titles, and eight home cups throughout three top-flight leagues.

FW: Eusébio

Caps: 64
Objectives: 41
Notable golf equipment: Benfica, Monterrey

Affectionately often known as O Reina which interprets to “The King”, Eusébio was probably the most prolific goalscorers in Portuguese historical past. A Ballon d’Or winner in 1965 and the runner-up in 1962 and 1966, the IFFHS attributes him with 619 targets on the membership and nation level- the twelfth most of any participant ever. He’s considered one of 5 gamers all-time to have scored 9 targets in a single World Cup, having finished so within the 1966 version of the match. For perspective, Cristiano Ronaldo has solely recorded eight targets in World Cups regardless of having performed in 5 totally different editions. His 0.64 aim per match ratio for Portugal is the best of any participant within the nationwide group’s historical past, having scored 41 targets in 64 matches.

FW: Paulo Futre

Caps: 41
Objectives: 6
Notable golf equipment: Sporting CP, Porto, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Marseille, Reggiana, AC Milan, West Ham United

Regardless of solely scoring six targets in 41 appearances for the Portuguese nationwide group, we could not omit Paulo Futre as a consequence of his unimaginable expertise. An Atlético Madrid legend, he scored 52 targets in 205 appearances for them from 1987 to 1993 (all competitions). In 1987, he completed as runner-up for the Ballon d’Or, and beforehand scored 33 targets in 118 appearances for Porto. A lot of his profession was hampered by accidents which brought about an early retirement at age 32, however he was nonetheless a pivotal a part of two Copa del Rey titles for Madrid and a Serie A championship for AC Milan. In 1999, World Soccer Journal listed him within the high 100 biggest footballers of the twentieth century.