Portugal has a rich football history and is home to some of the greatest soccer players in Portugal ever. From Ballon d’Or winners to World Cup heroes, these Portuguese football legends have left an indelible mark on the sport. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top 10 Portuguese footballers of all time and explore their achievements, records, and why they’re considered icons of Portugal’s soccer heritage. The list below features names every soccer fan should know – from historic stars to modern-day heroes, each a part of Portugal’s legacy in world football.

Table of Contents

Greatest Soccer Players in Portugal: Top 10 Portuguese Legends

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – The All-Time Portuguese Icon

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and teammate Pepe (left) celebrating. Ronaldo and Pepe are celebrated among the greatest soccer players in Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as the greatest soccer player in Portugal’s history. He became the first player to score 900 official goals for club and country. Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner – the most by any Portuguese – and the only male player to win the UEFA Champions League five times. As captain, he led Portugal to its first major trophy at UEFA Euro 2016. Ronaldo holds Portugal’s all-time records with 219 caps and 136 goals, making him the most capped player and top scorer in national team history.

Goals & Records: Over 900 career goals for club and country. Portugal’s all-time top scorer (136 goals). Five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Titles: 5× UEFA Champions League (2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018). Euro 2016 champion. UEFA Nations League 2019 champion. Three-time Premier League and three-time La Liga winner, plus multiple domestic cups.
Notable Achievements: Scored 50+ goals in 10 consecutive seasons; first player to hit 900 goals. All-time Champions League top scorer. World Cup record holder for most goals in knockout rounds (2018).

2. Eusébio – The Black Panther of Mozambique & Portugal

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1942–2014) was Portugal’s first global superstar, often called the “Black Panther.” He powered Portugal to a third-place finish at the 1966 World Cup, scoring 9 goals in 6 matches – the tournament’s top scorer. Eusébio won the 1965 Ballon d’Or (European Footballer of the Year) and was named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament in 1966. He was known for his incredible speed, strength, and finishing, registering 60 goals in 64 caps for Portugal. Eusébio spent most of his career at Benfica, winning two European Cups (1961, 1962) and 11 Portuguese league titles.

Goals & Records: 9 goals in 1966 World Cup. Ballon d’Or winner (1965). Portugal’s second-highest goalscorer in history (behind Ronaldo) with 41 goals in 64 games.
Titles: European Cup (Champions League) winner in 1961 and 1962 (with Benfica). Six Portuguese Cups and ten Primeira Liga titles.
Legacy: Regarded as the greatest footballer of his generation. Portuguese Football Federation’s (FPF) official history calls him a national hero. In 2004, Pelé included Eusébio in his “FIFA 100” list of the world’s greatest living players (alongside Figo and Costa).

3. Luís Figo – Mercurial World-Class Winger

Luís Figo (right) with teammate Rui Costa. Both are iconic players from Portugal’s golden generation.
Luís Figo (b.1972) was one of the most gifted wingers of his era. He was named the 2000 Ballon d’Or winner and 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the second Portuguese ever to win the Ballon d’Or after Eusébio. Figo earned 127 caps (a national record at the time) and scored 32 goals for Portugal. He starred for Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan, winning a UCL title with Real Madrid (2002) and numerous domestic leagues (4 La Liga titles).

International: 127 caps, 32 goals. Captain of Portugal and key player at Euro 2000 and 2004. Scored in the Euro 2000 quarter-final win over England.
Titles: UEFA Champions League champion (2001–02, Real Madrid). Four-time La Liga champion (three with Real Madrid, one with Barcelona). Spanish Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup winner. Portuguese Cup (Sporting CP).
Honors: 2000 Ballon d’Or. Six-time Portuguese Footballer of the Year (1995–2000). Named in Pelé’s FIFA 100 list (2004). Figo’s controversial transfer from Barcelona to Real in 2000 broke world transfer records, reflecting his value at the time.

4. Rui Costa – The Maestro from Amadora

Rui Costa (b.1972), nicknamed “Il Maestro,” was Portugal’s quintessential playmaker in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Pelé listed Rui Costa among the three greatest Portuguese players of all time (with Figo and Eusébio). Known for his elegance and vision, Costa earned 94 caps and scored 26 goals for Portugal. At club level he starred for Benfica, Fiorentina, and Milan. His career highlights include winning the UEFA Champions League 2002–03 with AC Milan (he played a key role in midfield) and capturing the 2003 Coppa Italia.

Caps & Goals: 94 caps and 26 goals for Portugal. Part of Portugal’s Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002 squads. Named in the UEFA Euro All-Star team (2000).
Titles: UEFA Champions League winner (2002–03 with AC Milan). Serie A champion (2003–04 with Milan). Coppa Italia (2002–03) and Italian Super Cup (2003) with Milan. Two Portuguese Cups (1993, 1996).
Legacy: Celebrated for his passing ability, Costa later became sporting director at Benfica. He’s regarded as one of Benfica’s all-time greats and a key figure in the 2000s Italian league.

5. Deco – Two-Time Champions League Winner

Deco (Anderson Luís de Souza, b.1977) is a Brazilian-born midfielder who became a Portuguese citizen and starred internationally for Portugal (75 caps). He achieved the rare feat of winning the UEFA Champions League with two different clubs: Porto in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006. Deco was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 2004 and finished as the runner-up for the 2004 Ballon d’Or. He captained Portugal at Euro 2004 (reaching the final) and was a creative force alongside Luis Figo in midfield.

Club Success: Champions League winner 2004 (Porto) and 2006 (Barcelona). Two UEFA Super Cups (2004, 2006) and one Intercontinental (Club World) Cup (2004) with Porto. Spanish Super Cup (2006, with Barcelona).
International: 75 caps for Portugal. UEFA Euro 2004 runner-up (played all matches). FIFA Confederations Cup 2006 third place. Nations League 2019 winner (squad member).
Awards: UEFA Club Footballer of the Year 2004 (best player). 2004 UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match. Known for vision, passing, and clutch performances in big matches.

6. Bernardo Silva – Modern-Day Playmaker

Bernardo Silva (b.1994) is one of the most talented Portuguese midfielders of the current generation. A product of Benfica’s academy, he won the French Ligue 1 title with Monaco in 2017 before transferring to Manchester City. At City, Silva has won multiple Premier League titles and was a key part of the squad that secured the continental treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League) in 2022–23. Internationally, he has 70+ caps for Portugal and was instrumental in winning the UEFA Nations League 2019, where he was named Player of the Tournament.

Club Achievements: Ligue 1 champion 2017 (Monaco). Premier League champion (2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22) and FA Cup winner (2018–19) with Manchester City. UEFA Champions League winner 2023 (Man City). Named Manchester City Player of the Year 2018–19.
International: 70+ caps for Portugal. UEFA Nations League 2019 champion (squad member, Player of the Tournament). Euro 2021 semi-finalist and 2022 World Cup quarter-finalist with Portugal.
Notable: Known for close control, creativity, and versatility. Shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or in 2018–19. He embodies the new era of Portuguese stars and continues to add to his trophy haul.

7. Mário Coluna – Benfica’s Midfield General

Mário Coluna (1935–2014) was Benfica’s midfield powerhouse during the club’s golden era (1950s–60s). Nicknamed “O Monstro Sagrado” (The Sacred Monster), Coluna captained Portugal at their first World Cup (1966) and was named to the tournament All-Star team. At Benfica, he won two consecutive European Cups (1961, 1962) by defeating Real Madrid in the finals. Over 16 seasons, he also collected 10 Portuguese league titles and 6 Portuguese Cups, becoming a club legend.

Club Titles: European Cup (Champions League) winner 1960–61, 1961–62. 10× Primeira Liga champion (1959–1960 through 1968–1969, with Benfica). 6× Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup) winner.
International: Portugal captain, 1966 World Cup third place. UEFA Euro 1964 (semi-finalist) and Euro 1960 (fourth place). Known for leadership, powerful shot, and stamina.
Recognition: Considered one of Benfica’s greatest ever players. He bridged the early era to modern football in Portugal and set a standard for midfielders.

8. Fernando Peyroteo – Unmatched Goalscorer

Fernando Peyroteo (1918–1978) is arguably the most prolific goalscorer in Portuguese league history. Playing as a striker for Sporting CP from 1937–1949, he scored 543 goals in 334 official games (1.62 goals per game) – a record that still stands. Peyroteo won six Primeira Liga titles and four Portuguese Cups with Sporting. He was the league’s top scorer five times, including a record 43 goals in the 1937–38 season. His international career (20 caps, 14 goals) was cut short by World War II, but he remains celebrated as Portuguese football’s most ferocious forward.

Goals & Records: 543 goals in 334 matches (all competitions). Primeira Liga top scorer 5 times, scoring 309 goals in 189 league games. Goals-per-game ratio of 1.53 in league play.
Titles: 6× Portuguese league champion (Sporting). 4× Portuguese Cup winner (Sporting).
Legacy: Holds records unlikely to be broken. Known for his lightning-fast shooting and prolific finishing. Although he never played in a World Cup (WWII era), he is revered among Portuguese football historians and is often listed among Sporting CP’s all-time greats.

9. Paulo Futre – The Dashing Winger

Paulo Futre (b.1966) was a dynamic winger and one of Portugal’s first international stars. He burst onto the scene in the 1980s at Sporting and Porto, winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Porto in 1987. Futre then transferred to Atlético Madrid and won the Copa del Rey twice (1985, 1991). He was twice named Portuguese Footballer of the Year (1987, 1988) and famously finished second in the 1987 Ballon d’Or voting behind Ruud Gullit. Known for his speed and dribbling, Futre scored 27 goals in 41 caps for Portugal, including a hat-trick against Switzerland.

Accolades: Portuguese Footballer of the Year – 1987, 1988. Ballon d’Or runner-up – 1987. UEFA Euro 1984 participant.
Club Success: Winner of two Copa del Rey titles (1985, 1991 with Atlético Madrid). European Cup Winners’ Cup – 1987 (with Porto). Spanish Super Cup: 1985.
Style & Impact: Nicknamed “The Outsider,” Futre was celebrated for his flair and attacking runs. Injuries hampered his career, but he remains a beloved figure who paved the way for Portugal’s later stars.

10. Pepe – Defensive Pillar and Captain

Pepe (Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira, b.1983) is one of Portugal’s most decorated defenders. A powerful center-back, he played over 300 games for Real Madrid, helping the club to three UEFA Champions League titles (2014, 2016, 2017) and three La Liga championships. Pepe earned 141 caps for Portugal, making him the country’s third-most-capped player. He was a key figure in Portugal’s Euro 2016 victory, playing every match from the group stage and earning Man of the Match in the final clean-sheet win over France. In 2019 he captained Portugal’s UEFA Nations League–winning team.

Caps & Goals: 141 appearances for Portugal (third all-time). Scored key goals at Euro 2016 (header vs. Croatia) and Confederations Cup 2017 (equaliser vs. Mexico).
Titles: UEFA European Championship 2016 winner. UEFA Champions League – 2014, 2016, 2017 (Real Madrid). UEFA Nations League – 2019 (Portugal). Three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey (Real Madrid).
Honors: Named to Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament. Retired from international football in 2024 after winning 141 caps. Known for his leadership, resilience, and longevity (oldest goal scorer in Champions League history).

Engage with Portuguese Football History

These top Portuguese footballers represent the golden eras and modern successes of Portugal’s national team and clubs. From Portuguese football legends of the 1960s to current stars, their stories inspire new generations of fans. Which of these iconic players from Portugal is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and share this article on social media. Subscribe to our blog for more deep dives into soccer history and profiles of legendary players!

FAQs

Who is considered the greatest soccer player in Portugal history?
Most experts and fans point to Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest, given his unprecedented goal records, five Ballon d’Or wins, and international trophies with Portugal.

Who scored the most goals for Portugal?
Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 136 goals. He leads his nearest competitors by a wide margin.

Which Portuguese players have won the Ballon d’Or?
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times. Luís Figo won it once in 2000. Eusébio won the Ballon d’Or (European Footballer of the Year) in 1965 (the predecessor to the modern award).

How many Portuguese players have won the Champions League?
Several have: Cristiano Ronaldo (5 wins), Deco (2 wins with Porto and Barcelona), Luís Figo (2002 with Real Madrid), Pepe (3 wins), and others like Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Bento, and more from the 2014, 2016, 2017 Real Madrid squads, though they may not be on our top-10 list.

What notable titles has the Portugal national team won?
Portugal’s major honors include UEFA Euro 2016 (defeating France in the final) and the UEFA Nations League 2019. Portugal also finished 3rd in the 1966 World Cup (led by Eusébio) and 4th in the 2006 World Cup (with players like Figo and Carvalho).

Are there other Portuguese legends worth mentioning?
Other notable names include Ricardo Carvalho, Simao Sabrosa, and João Moutinho among midfielders, or Ricardo Quaresma and Bruno Fernandes among recent stars. Each new generation adds to Portugal’s legacy of great players.