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From legendary shot-stoppers to all-time great goalscorers, Portugal has produced some of football's finest talents. Join us as we pick our all-time starting eleven for the Portuguese national side, featuring icons like Eusébio, Luis Figo, and Cristiano Ronaldo, plus the ones to watch heading into 2026!
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00:06Welcome to the FIFA World Cup on WatchMojo, and today we're picking an all-time starting
00:1111 for the Portugal national side. Be sure to stick around for the full line-up, because
00:16at the end of the video, we'll rapid-fire through the very best players to watch out
00:21for in the 2026 tournament specifically.
00:245. Goalkeeper Vitor Beyer
00:28Regarded by most as the greatest goalkeeper to ever put on a Portuguese shoot, Vitor Beyer
00:34was an elite shot-stopper who spent the majority of his career at Porto with a stint at the
00:39Spanish giants Barcelona in between. Agile, vocal, and positionally sharp, Beyer combined
00:46reflex saves with leadership and composure under pressure. These traits led him to play a huge
00:51role in the legendary Porto side that won the 2004 Champions League under the guidance of
00:57the rising managerial star Jose Mourinho. He also won a host of domestic leagues at club
01:03level while representing his nation on 80 different occasions.
01:075. Right-back Joao Pinto When it came to dependable wing-backs, Joao
01:12Pinto proved his mettle more than most during his 16-year pro career. He spent the entirety
01:18of that time at Porto helping them win nine league titles and a European Cup, among other
01:23accolades. Over the course of his 70 appearances for Portugal, he didn't manage to win a major
01:29trophy, but he did get the honor of making the UEFA European Championship team of the tournament
01:34in 1984. A versatile and composed servant to his club, he ended his career with a trophy
01:41tally that anyone would be proud of.
01:446. Centre-back Pepe Though sometimes criticized for his discipline
01:48on the pitch, it's actually that intensity and aggression that make Pepe the legend that
01:53he is.
02:04As part of the dominant Real Madrid dynasty that went to war with a peak Barcelona side
02:09in the 2010s, Pepe picked up his fair share of silverware. Three Champions League medals,
02:15a European Championship with Portugal, and seven domestic league titles across his stint at
02:20Madrid and later at Porto. Pepe definitely wore his heart on his sleeve, and that passion
02:26made him a fearless and driven leader out there.
02:297. Centre-back Ricardo Carvalho
02:31As far as centre-backs are concerned, there was a certain elegance to the way Ricardo Carvalho
02:37went about his business. He was composed in possession, tactically tuned in, and always quite
02:43precise in his tackling. Over the course of his stint in the top flight, especially with
02:48Chelsea, he carved out a reputation as one of the best defenders of his era. He also earned
02:54a Champions League trophy under Jose Mourinho at Porto before joining him when he moved to
02:59London. Adapting to the Premier League was no problem for Carvalho, and his reputation
03:04remains strong to this day.
03:068. Left-back Fabio Quintrao
03:09Despite starting his career as a more offensively-minded winger, Fabio Quintrao showcased his versatility
03:15by becoming one of the most dependable full-backs of his era.
03:30Whether he was proving his grit in a one-on-one battle, or shifting gears to get the ball up
03:35the pitch, Quintrao did the simple stuff very well. He was rarely finding his way into the
03:40headlines, but over the course of his career, he rarely put a foot wrong. Two La Liga titles
03:46and two Champions League medals certainly added a cherry on top by the time he hung up his
03:50boots and retired.
03:529. Centre midfield Mario Coluna Mario Coluna was the heartbeat of Benfica during
03:58its Golden Era. A commanding midfielder, he captained the team to two European Cups in
04:03the 1960s, showing off elite leadership qualities at his peak. He spent the majority of his career
04:09at Benfica pulling strings from the midfield, earning worldwide acclaim. No list of the greatest
04:15central players of the 60s would be complete without giving him a mention. During his 57 caps for
04:21Portugal, he represented his nation with the captain's armband, becoming a revered talisman
04:27in the process. Easily one of the best midfielders of his generation.
04:3110. Centre midfield Deco
04:34Creativity and flair were the name of the game when it came to this iconic midfielder.
04:38He was yet another Portuguese player who shone as part of Jose Mourinho's Porto side in 2004.
04:45Like most of those names too, he truly came out of his shell when he stepped up to the next
04:50level of European football. From stunning English fans with his debut screamer for Chelsea,
04:59to dominating the midfield during a Golden Era for Barcelona, Deco was one of the classiest
05:05players alive. The fact that he won the Champions League with two different clubs should paint
05:10a vivid picture of his standing within Portuguese history.
05:1410. Centre attacking midfield Rui Costa
05:18There might not have been a player in Rui Costa's era who brought quite as much elegance to
05:23every match. When you consider that he did most of his best work in the Italian Serie A,
05:28the home of the elegant players, that's truly saying something. He played an integral role
05:33at Benfica, Fiorentina, and most notably for AC Milan. As a classic number 10 player, Costa orchestrated
05:45attacks with composure and intelligence, outmaneuvering opponents like they weren't even there. A true
05:52playmaking powerhouse who managed to earn a coveted Champions League medal in 2003.
05:5710. Right winger Cristiano Ronaldo What can really be said about Cristiano Ronaldo
06:02at this point that hasn't been repeated a dozen times already?
06:12In his long and successful prime, he was the perfect footballing athlete, a player who was a goal-threat
06:19in every facet of the game. His electric turn of pace, elite aerial skills, outstanding dribbling,
06:25and his rocket right foot were all a product of his truly insane work rate. There's a reason why,
06:32at 41, he is still being talked about as a key member of Portugal's plans for 2026.
06:39Five Champions League trophies and over 800 career goals are the first stats people bring up,
06:45but those numbers only scratch the surface of why Ronaldo is the Portuguese GOAT.
06:50Left winger Luis Figo The Ballon d'Or winner and global superstar Luis Figo introduced the world
06:58to a new type of Portuguese footballer. Though he ruffled a few feathers by transferring from
07:03Barcelona to Real Madrid, Figo's performances were truly a revelation for both. A technically
07:09excellent right winger, he combined elite playmaking and crossing skills with world-class dribbling ability.
07:15He was, in many ways, the perfect wide midfielder. Over the course of his 127 international caps,
07:22he went from a key member of the golden generation of young players who broke through
07:27to a leader and a captain. One of the best players of the 1990s and then later the 2000s.
07:35Striker Eusebio To say that Eusebio was ahead of his time would be a huge understatement.
07:40Explosive, powerful, and clinical, he effortlessly blended athleticism with lethal finishing,
07:47which made him a huge superstar in the process. This came during a time where Portuguese football
07:52sensations of that magnitude were few and far between. In many ways, he helped shape an identity
07:58for this footballing nation moving forward. He took home the 1965 Ballon d'Or, and while he
08:04couldn't lead his Portugal side further than third place at the 1966 World Cup, he was the tournament's
08:10top scorer with nine goals in six games.
08:13Subs Bench
08:14Manuel Bento
08:16Legendary shot-stopping goalkeeper renowned for reflexes and leadership.
08:21Germano
08:22Commanding centre-back who anchored Portugal's defence in the 1960s.
08:27Miguel
08:28Reliable
08:29Reliable right-back who earned 59 gaps internationally.
08:32Paolo
08:33Souza
08:33Deep-lying midfielder master of passing and controlling tempo.
08:38Bruno
08:38Fernandes
08:39Manchester United fan favourites and modern-day great.
08:43Bernardo
08:44Silva
08:44Man City captain with elite technical skill and versatility.
08:49Paolo
08:49Futra
08:50Explosive winger who combined pace and skill in equal measure.
08:55Ricardo
08:56Quaresma
08:57Flair-filled winger who popularised the Trivela shot.
09:01Fernando
09:01Perroteo
09:02Incredibly prolific Portuguese goalscorer from the 1930s and 40s.
09:08So, those are the greatest of all time, but how about right now?
09:11Who are the players you need to know before World Cup 2026 kicks off in America, Mexico,
09:17and Canada?
09:19Cristiano
09:19Ronaldo
09:20Being the competitor he is, Cristiano Ronaldo will have the memories of watching Lionel Messi
09:26win the 2022 World Cup fresh in his mind coming into this one.
09:31At 41 years old, there's no denying he's well past his prime.
09:35However, as one of the game's greatest ever athletes, count CR7 out at your own peril.
09:46If he can stay fit, he will surely play a key role in this summer's tournament.
09:51Initially, Ronaldo with the shot, oh it's gone in!
09:55Cristiano Ronaldo gets Portugal's second goal of the night.
09:59Bruno Fernandes
10:00At club level, Bruno Fernandes has been a talisman for Manchester United, but now he
10:06will be expected to be one of the players stepping into the void left by the absence
10:11of a prime Ronaldo.
10:16The strong tournament would elevate him from key contributor to defining protagonist.
10:21His skills are potent and he does have all of the key ingredients needed to be a leader
10:27out there, but only time will tell if he can pull it off.
10:31Vitinha
10:31Over the last few years, Vitinha has solidified his status as one of the sport's premier midfielders.
10:38When Portugal press forward or shift backwards, he will be at the heart of everything, organizing
10:43and managing tempo.
10:51His elite level technical skills combine perfectly with a fantastic work rate to make him the
10:58type of central midfielder that could well be a breakout performer at this year's tournament.
11:03Bernardo Silva
11:04When it comes to high level experience, Bernardo Silva is going to be invaluable.
11:15His multiple league titles and the Champions League medal he took home in 2023 make him one of the
11:21most decorated players in the squad. His club legacy is already close to being set in stone, but now
11:27the question over his ability to deliver the goods on the international stage could well see him rise
11:34to the occasion. Nuno Mendes
11:36Despite being one of the younger senior players in the Portuguese squad, Nuno Mendes has already locked in his position
11:43as one of the best fullbacks in the game, period. He will know in the back of his mind that
11:49he will get a second
11:50and perhaps even third chance to win the sport's most coveted trophy. That said, to show up in a big
11:56way now
11:57can set him on the course of true superstardom. But how do you predict Portugal will do in the
12:032026 World Cup? Let us know in those comments below.
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