Portugal national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Portugal

Nicknames	Seleção das Quinas (Team of the five shields on the flag) Lusos (People from ancient Lusitania)
Association	Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Roberto Martínez
Captain	Cristiano Ronaldo
Most caps	Cristiano Ronaldo (230)
Top scorer	Cristiano Ronaldo (145)
Home stadium	Various
FIFA code	POR
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	6 (7 February 2019)
Highest	3 (May–June 2010, October 2012, April–June 2014, September 2017–April 2018)
Lowest	43 (August 1998)
First international
Spain 3–1 Portugal  (Madrid, Spain; 18 December 1921)
Biggest win
Portugal 9–0 Luxembourg  (Almancil, Portugal; 11 September 2023)
Biggest defeat
Portugal 0–10 England  (Lisbon, Portugal; 25 May 1947)
World Cup
Appearances	9 (first in 1966)
Best result	Third place (1966)
European Championship
Appearances	9 (first in 1984)
Best result	Champions (2016)
Nations League Finals
Appearances	2 (first in 2019)
Best result	Champions (2019, 2025)
Confederations Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2017)
Best result	Third place (2017)
Medal record Men's football FIFA World Cup Bronze 1966 England Team FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze 2017 Russia Team UEFA European Championship Gold 2016 France Team Silver 2004 Portugal Team UEFA Nations League Gold 2019 Portugal Team Gold 2025 Germany Team
Website	fpf.pt

The Portugal national football team (also known as Seleção Portuguesa de Futebol) represents Portugal in men's international football games. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) manages the team. They have played since 1921. While their official home is the Estádio Nacional, they often play in bigger, modern stadiums across Portugal. These include the Estádio da Luz, Estádio José Alvalade, and the Estádio do Dragão.

The team's current coach is Roberto Martínez. Their captain is the famous player Cristiano Ronaldo. He holds the records for playing the most games and scoring the most goals for Portugal.

Portugal first played in a big tournament at the 1966 FIFA World Cup. A legendary player named Eusébio helped them finish in third place. Since the 2000s, Portugal has consistently qualified for the European Championship and World Cup. They were runners-up at Euro 2004 when they hosted the event. The team achieved great success from the late 2010s to the mid-2020s. During this time, with Cristiano Ronaldo as captain, they won their first major trophy, Euro 2016. They also won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again in 2025.

People often call the team Seleção das Quinas. This nickname comes from the five shields on Portugal's flag. Portugal has exciting rivalries with other teams. These include Brazil because of their shared history. They also have a rivalry with Spain, their neighbor, and France, due to many important matches.

Portugal's Football Journey

First Steps in the World Cup

Portugal was not invited to the 1930 World Cup. They tried to qualify for the 1934 World Cup but lost to Spain. They lost 9–0 in Madrid and 2–1 in Lisbon. This made the total score 11–1.

For the 1938 World Cup, Portugal played Switzerland in Milan. They lost 2–1 and did not qualify. World War II stopped the World Cup until 1950. During this time, the national team played very few games. In 1947, they had their biggest defeat ever, losing 10–0 to England in a friendly match.

Building Up in the 1950s and 60s

In 1950, Portugal again played Spain to qualify for the World Cup. They lost 5–1 in Madrid and drew 2–2 in Lisbon. This meant they did not qualify. They were invited to replace Turkey, but Portugal chose not to go.

For the 1954 World Cup, Portugal played Austria. Austria won the first game 9–1. The second game was a 0–0 draw, so Portugal did not qualify. Four years later, Portugal won a qualifying match for the first time. They beat Italy 3–0 at home. However, they still did not qualify from their group.

1960 was the year the European Championship began. Portugal won their first-round matches against East Germany. They won 2–0 away and 3–2 at home, making it 5–2 overall. In the quarter-finals, they lost to Yugoslavia 6–3.

Portugal tried to qualify for the 1962 World Cup. They finished second in their group behind England and did not qualify. In the 1964 European Championship, Portugal played Bulgaria. They won one game and lost one. A deciding match was played in Rome, where Portugal lost 1–0.

A Great Start: Third Place in 1966

Portugal qualified for the 1966 World Cup after winning their group. They had only one draw and one loss in six games. Key wins included 1–0 against Czechoslovakia and Turkey, and 5–1 against Turkey at home.

At the World Cup, the team won all three group games. They beat Hungary 3–1, Bulgaria 3–0, and two-time champions Brazil 3–1. In the quarter-finals, they faced North Korea. Portugal came back from 3–0 down to win 5–3, with Eusébio scoring four goals. They reached the semi-finals but lost 2–1 to hosts England. The game was moved to London because England was the host. Portugal then beat the Soviet Union 2–1 to finish in third place. This is still their best World Cup result. Eusébio was the top scorer with nine goals. Portugal did not qualify for another World Cup for 20 years after this.

The 1980s: Ups and Downs

Portugal won their Euro 1984 qualifying group. This allowed them to qualify for the finals. In the finals, they were in Group B with Spain, West Germany, and Romania. They drew 0–0 with West Germany and 1–1 with Spain. A 1–0 win over Romania helped them finish second in the group.

In the semi-finals, Portugal played hosts France. The game was tied after regular time. Portugal led 2–1 in extra time, but France scored twice to win 3–2. This eliminated Portugal from the tournament.

For the 1986 World Cup, Portugal played against Czechoslovakia, Malta, Sweden, and West Germany. They needed to win their last game against West Germany in Stuttgart. Portugal won, becoming the first team to beat West Germany at home in an official match. However, their World Cup journey was short. They won 1–0 against England but lost to Poland and Morocco. They finished last in their group. This World Cup was also known for the "Saltillo Affair". Players had disagreements with the Portuguese Football Federation. This was Portugal's last World Cup appearance until 2002.

The Golden Generation (1995-2006)

At UEFA Euro 1996, Portugal finished first in their group. In the quarter-finals, they lost 1–0 to the Czech Republic.

Portugal did not qualify for the 1998 World Cup. For Euro 2000, Portugal finished second in their group. They were the best runner-up team, so they still made it to the finals. They then defeated England 3–2, Romania 1–0, and Germany 3–0. This put them first in their group. They defeated Turkey in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals against France, the game went to extra time. France won with a penalty kick, making the final score 2–1. Some Portuguese players were suspended for arguing with the referee.

Portugal won their group during 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying. However, they faced problems during the tournament. They lost 3–2 to the United States. They then won 4–0 against Poland. But they lost their last group game to hosts South Korea. Portugal finished third in its group and was eliminated. The manager, António Oliveira, was fired after the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo, pictured playing against Germany at Euro 2012, became captain after Euro 2008.

The next major competition, the Euro 2004, was held in Portugal. The host nation lost the first game against Greece 1–2. They achieved their first win against Russia 2–0 and also beat Spain 1–0. They went on to play against England, drawing 2–2. Portugal won the match after a penalty shoot-out. Portugal beat the Netherlands 2–1 in the semi-finals. However, they suffered a second defeat from Greece, 1–0, in the final.

After the tournament, many players from the "Golden Generation" retired from international football. Only Luís Figo remained for a while. A positive outcome for Portugal was the rise of Cristiano Ronaldo. He was chosen for the UEFA Euro All-Star team.

Portugal finished first in the qualifying round for the 2006 World Cup. They topped Group D in the World Cup. They had victories over Angola (1–0), Iran (2–0), and Mexico (2–1). Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the Round of 16. This match was known for many fouls and cards. Portugal drew 0–0 after extra time with England in the quarter-final. They won 3–1 on penalties to reach their first World Cup semi-final since 1966. Portugal lost the semi-final 1–0 against France. They were then defeated 3–1 by the tournament hosts, Germany, in the third-place play-off match.

New Challenges (2006-2014)

For Euro 2008, Portugal finished second in qualification behind Poland. They won their first two group games against Turkey and the Czech Republic. A loss to co-hosts Switzerland led to a quarter-final match with Germany, which the team lost 3–2. After the tournament, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari left. Carlos Queiroz was then appointed as the head coach.

Portugal finished second in the qualifying stages for the 2010 World Cup. They then beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in a play-off. This meant they had reached every major tournament in the decade. A 19-match undefeated streak ended with a 1–0 loss to eventual champions Spain in the round of 16.

Coach Paulo Bento's team qualified for Euro 2012. They were in a tough group with Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. They lost their first game 0–1 to Germany. They then beat Denmark 3–2. In the final group match against the Netherlands, Ronaldo scored twice to secure a 2–1 victory. Portugal finished second in the group and moved to the knockout phase. Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 1–0 in the quarter-finals with a header from Ronaldo. The semi-final match was against Spain. Spain defeated Portugal 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw.

In 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Portugal won 4–2 on aggregate in a play-off against Sweden. All four goals were scored by Ronaldo. They were drawn into Group G with the United States, Germany, and Ghana. Their first match against the Germans was their worst-ever World Cup defeat, a 4–0 loss. They went on to draw 2–2 against the United States and won 2–1 against Ghana. However, the team was eliminated due to a lower goal difference than the Americans.

Winning Big: The Fernando Santos Years (2016-2022)

In UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, coach Paulo Bento was replaced by Fernando Santos in September 2014. After qualifying for the finals, Portugal finished third in Group F. They advanced to the knockout stages as one of the best third-place teams after three straight draws. Portugal beat Croatia 1–0 after extra time in the round of 16. They then defeated Poland 5–3 on penalties to reach the semi-finals. There, they defeated Wales 2–0. In the final against hosts France, Ronaldo left injured. In extra time, substitute Eder scored the winning goal for Portugal in the 109th minute. This was Portugal's first major trophy!

After their Euro 2016 victory, Portugal played in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. They finished top of their group. However, they lost to Chile on penalties after a goalless draw in the semi-finals. They won the third-place game, defeating Mexico 2–1 after extra time.

Portugal lining up before a match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Portugal started with a 3–3 draw against Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in that match. After a 1–0 victory against Morocco, Portugal drew 1–1 with Iran. This allowed them to move to the knockout round as group runners-up. Portugal was eliminated after a 2–1 defeat to Uruguay in the round of 16.

After the World Cup, Portugal won the first-ever UEFA Nations League. They beat the Netherlands at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto. The only goal was scored by Gonçalo Guedes in the 60th minute.

At Euro 2020, Portugal was in a very tough group with France, Germany, and Hungary. Portugal advanced to the next round by defeating Hungary, drawing with France, and losing to Germany. In the knockout stage, they faced Belgium but lost 1–0.

For the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Portugal had to go through play-offs. They finished second in their group. Portugal managed to beat Turkey and North Macedonia to qualify. At the 2022 World Cup, Portugal defeated Ghana 3–2 in their first group game. They then beat Uruguay 2–0 to qualify for the knockout stages. The Portuguese team beat Switzerland 6–1 in the next round. This was their highest score in a World Cup knockout game since 1966. Gonçalo Ramos scored three goals. However, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Morocco, losing 1–0. After this World Cup, Fernando Santos was no longer the coach.

The Roberto Martinez Era and More Trophies (2023-Present)

On January 9, 2023, Roberto Martinez became the new head coach of Portugal. On September 11, Martinez led Portugal to their biggest victory ever. They defeated Luxembourg 9–0 at home. Martinez's team was one of the first European sides to qualify for UEFA Euro 2024. They won 3–2 against Slovakia, making it their quickest qualification for a major tournament.

After a 2–0 home win over Iceland, Martinez led Portugal to a perfect qualifying campaign. They set records for most goals scored (36) and fewest goals conceded (2). They also kept nine clean sheets. Portugal became one of the few European teams to win all ten of their qualifying matches for the European Championship. This was a first in Portugal's history.

In their European Championship group, Portugal played against Georgia, Turkey, and Czechia. With wins against Czechia and Turkey and a loss to Georgia, Portugal qualified as group winners. They played against Slovenia in the Round of 16. The game finished 0–0 and was decided by penalties. Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all of Slovenia's penalties, and Portugal scored all of theirs to win. Facing France in the Quarter-finals, the game again finished 0–0. France won 5–3 on penalties after a miss by João Felix, and Portugal was eliminated.

On June 9, 2025, Roberto Martinez guided Portugal to their second UEFA Nations League title. They defeated the reigning European champions Spain 5–3 on penalties.

In the 2026 World Cup, Portugal was drawn into Group K. Their opponents were Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan. On June 17, they tied their first game against DR Congo 1–1. They completed 724 passes, their most ever in a World Cup match. On June 23, they won 5–0 against Uzbekistan.

Team image

Team Colors and Jerseys

Portugal's traditional home kit is mostly red with green details. These colors match the nation's flag. Over the years, the shade of red has changed between a darker burgundy and a brighter scarlet. Both green and red shorts have been used with the jersey.

The team's away kits have changed more often. White has usually been the main color, sometimes with blue shorts, or red and green highlights. More recently, all-black kits have been used. A turquoise-teal color was also featured when they won the Euro 2016 title.

Who Makes Their Kits?

Period	Supplier
1920–1976	None
1976–1994	Adidas
1994–1996	Olympic Sportswear
1997–2024	Nike
2025–	Puma

Coaching Staff

Roberto Martínez, the current coach

The coaching staff helps the team prepare for matches and tournaments.

Position	Name
Head coach	Roberto Martínez
Assistant coaches	Austin MacPhee Ricardo Carvalho
Goalkeeping coaches	Ricardo Iñaki Bergara
Chief analyst	Bruno Pereira
Performance manager	Richard Evans
Technical director	José Couceiro José Guilherme
Sports scientist	João Brito
Head of media and communications	Marco Ferreira
Academy manager	Joaquim Milheiro

Recent Results

Here's a summary of Portugal's recent match results from 2025 and 2026.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

In 2025, Portugal had a strong qualifying campaign for the World Cup. They secured big wins, including a 5–0 victory against Armenia and a 3–2 win over Hungary. They also beat Ireland 1–0. They drew 2–2 with Hungary but faced a 2–0 loss against Ireland. They finished the year with a huge 9–1 win against Armenia.

In 2026, Portugal played some friendly matches. They drew 0–0 with Mexico and won 2–0 against the USA. They also had friendly wins against Chile (2–1) and Nigeria (2–1). In the 2026 World Cup group stage, they drew 1–1 with DR Congo and achieved a dominant 5–0 victory against Uzbekistan. They have one more group stage match scheduled against Colombia.

Meet the Current Squad

The following 26 players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Caps and goals are correct as of June 23, 2026, after the match against Uzbekistan.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Diogo Costa	(1999-09-19) 19 September 1999 (age 26)	45	0	Porto
12	1GK	José Sá	(1993-01-17) 17 January 1993 (age 33)	5	0	Wolverhampton Wanderers
22	1GK	Rui Silva	(1994-02-07) 7 February 1994 (age 32)	3	0	Sporting CP
2	2DF	Nélson Semedo	(1993-11-16) 16 November 1993 (age 32)	52	0	Fenerbahçe
3	2DF	Rúben Dias	(1997-05-14) 14 May 1997 (age 29)	77	3	Manchester City
4	2DF	Tomás Araújo	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 24)	6	0	Benfica
5	2DF	Diogo Dalot	(1999-03-18) 18 March 1999 (age 27)	35	3	Manchester United
13	2DF	Renato Veiga	(2003-07-29) 29 July 2003 (age 22)	15	1	Villarreal
14	2DF	Gonçalo Inácio	(2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 24)	22	2	Sporting CP
20	2DF	João Cancelo	(1994-05-27) 27 May 1994 (age 32)	70	12	Barcelona
25	2DF	Nuno Mendes	(2002-06-19) 19 June 2002 (age 24)	46	2	Paris Saint-Germain
6	3MF	Matheus Nunes	(1998-08-27) 27 August 1998 (age 27)	20	2	Manchester City
8	3MF	Bruno Fernandes	(1994-09-08) 8 September 1994 (age 31)	91	29	Manchester United
10	3MF	Bernardo Silva	(1994-08-10) 10 August 1994 (age 31)	111	14	Real Madrid
15	3MF	João Neves	(2004-09-27) 27 September 2004 (age 21)	24	4	Paris Saint-Germain
21	3MF	Rúben Neves	(1997-03-13) 13 March 1997 (age 29)	67	1	Al-Hilal
23	3MF	Vitinha	(2000-02-13) 13 February 2000 (age 26)	40	0	Paris Saint-Germain
24	3MF	Samú Costa	(2000-11-27) 27 November 2000 (age 25)	6	0	Mallorca
7	4FW	Cristiano Ronaldo (captain)	(1985-02-05) 5 February 1985 (age 41)	230	145	Al-Nassr
9	4FW	Gonçalo Ramos	(2001-06-20) 20 June 2001 (age 25)	26	10	Paris Saint-Germain
11	4FW	João Félix	(1999-11-10) 10 November 1999 (age 26)	55	12	Al-Nassr
16	4FW	Francisco Trincão	(1999-12-29) 29 December 1999 (age 26)	19	3	Sporting CP
17	4FW	Rafael Leão	(1999-06-10) 10 June 1999 (age 27)	46	6	Milan
18	4FW	Pedro Neto	(2000-03-09) 9 March 2000 (age 26)	27	3	Chelsea
19	4FW	Gonçalo Guedes	(1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 (age 29)	34	8	Real Sociedad
26	4FW	Francisco Conceição	(2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 23)	19	4	Juventus

Other Players Who Have Played Recently

The following players have also been called up to the Portugal squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Ricardo Velho	(1998-08-20) 20 August 1998 (age 27)	1	0	Gençlerbirliği	v.  Nigeria, 10 June 2026
GK	João Carvalho	(2004-04-09) 9 April 2004 (age 22)	0	0	Braga	v.  Republic of Ireland, 13 November 2025
DF	António Silva	(2003-10-30) 30 October 2003 (age 22)	20	0	Benfica	v.  United States, 31 March 2026
DF	Nuno Tavares	(2000-01-26) 26 January 2000 (age 26)	3	0	Lazio	v.  Hungary, 14 October 2025
MF	Mateus Fernandes	(2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 22)	1	0	West Ham United	v.  United States, 31 March 2026
MF	João Palhinha	(1995-07-09) 9 July 1995 (age 31)	38	2	Tottenham Hotspur	v.  Armenia, 16 November 2025
FW	Ricardo Horta	(1994-09-15) 15 September 1994 (age 31)	13	4	Braga	v.  United States, 31 March 2026
FW	Paulinho	(1992-11-09) 9 November 1992 (age 33)	5	2	Toluca	v.  United States, 31 March 2026
FW	Pedro Gonçalves	(1998-06-28) 28 June 1998 (age 28)	4	0	Sporting CP	v.  United States, 31 March 2026
FW	Rodrigo Mora	(2007-05-05) 5 May 2007 (age 19)	0	0	Porto	v.  Mexico, 29 March 2026 INJ
FW	Carlos Forbs	(2004-03-19) 19 March 2004 (age 22)	1	0	Club Brugge	v.  Armenia, 16 November 2025
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. FIT Player withdrew from the squad due to fitness concerns. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player retired from international football. OTH Player withdrew from the squad due to other reasons. SUS Serving Suspension

Individual Statistics

Players in bold are still active.

Players with Most Games

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's most capped player and all-time top scorer.

Top Goal Scorers

Amazing Goal Records

• Most goals scored in World Cup: 10 – Cristiano Ronaldo (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026)
• Most goals scored in one World Cup: 9 – Eusébio (1966)
• Most goals scored in one European Championship: 5 – Cristiano Ronaldo (2020)
• Most goals scored in European Championship: 14 – Cristiano Ronaldo (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020)
• Oldest goalscorer: 41 years, 4 months and 18 days – Cristiano Ronaldo (against Uzbekistan on June 23, 2026)
• Youngest goalscorer: 17 years, 9 months and 25 days – Fernando Chalana (against Cyprus on December 5, 1976)
• Most hat-tricks: 10 – Cristiano Ronaldo (includes four goals against Andorra on October 7, 2016, and Lithuania on September 10, 2019)
• Most pokers (four goals in a game): 2 – Cristiano Ronaldo
• Youngest player to score a hat-trick: 20 years, 11 months and 4 days – André Silva (against Faroe Islands on October 10, 2016)

Other Cool Records

• Most matches played in World Cup: 24 – Cristiano Ronaldo (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026)
• Most matches played in European Championship: 30 – Cristiano Ronaldo (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024)
• Oldest player (outfield or goalkeeper): 41 years, 4 months and 18 days – Cristiano Ronaldo (against Uzbekistan on June 23, 2026)
• Longest national career (outfield or goalkeeper): 22 years, 10 months and 3 days – Cristiano Ronaldo (from August 20, 2003, to June 23, 2026)
• Youngest debutant: 17 years, 6 months and 24 days – Paulo Futre (against Finland on September 21, 1983)
• Youngest player to reach 100 caps: 27 years, 8 months and 11 days – Cristiano Ronaldo (against Northern Ireland on October 16, 2012)
• Youngest player to reach 200 caps: 38 years, 4 months and 15 days – Cristiano Ronaldo (against Iceland on June 20, 2023)

Competitive Record

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place   

World Cup Adventures

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Did not enter									Did not enter
1934	Did not qualify									2nd	2	0	0	2	1	11
1938										2nd	1	0	0	1	1	2
1950										2nd	2	0	1	1	3	7
1954										2nd	2	0	1	1	1	9
1958										3rd	4	1	1	2	4	7
1962										2nd	4	1	1	2	9	7
1966	Third place	3rd	6	5	0	1	17	8		1st	6	4	1	1	9	4
1970	Did not qualify									4th	6	1	2	3	8	10
1974										2nd	6	2	3	1	10	6
1978										2nd	6	4	1	1	12	6
1982										4th	8	3	1	4	8	11
1986	Group stage	17th	3	1	0	2	2	4		2nd	8	5	0	3	12	10
1990	Did not qualify									3rd	8	4	2	2	11	8
1994										3rd	10	6	2	2	18	5
1998										3rd	10	5	4	1	12	4
2002	Group stage	21st	3	1	0	2	6	4		1st	10	7	3	0	33	7
2006	Fourth place	4th	7	4	1	2	7	5		1st	12	9	3	0	35	5
2010	Round of 16	11th	4	1	2	1	7	1		P/O	12	7	4	1	19	5
2014	Group stage	18th	3	1	1	1	4	7		P/O	12	8	3	1	24	11
2018	Round of 16	13th	4	1	2	1	6	6		1st	10	9	0	1	32	4
2022	Quarter-finals	8th	5	3	0	2	12	6		P/O	10	7	2	1	22	7
2026	in progress	TBD	2	1	1	0	6	1		1st	6	4	1	1	20	7
2030	Qualified as co-hosts									Qualified as co-hosts
2034	To be determined									To be determined
Total:9/23	Third place		37	18	7	12	67	42		—	155	87	36	32	304	153

FIFA World Cup history
First match	Portugal 3–1 Hungary  (13 July 1966; Manchester, England)
Biggest win	Portugal 7–0 North Korea  (21 June 2010; Cape Town, South Africa)
Biggest defeat	Germany 4–0 Portugal  (16 June 2014; Salvador, Brazil)
Best result	Third place in 1966
Worst result	Group stage in 1986, 2002, 2014

* Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. Red border color indicates that the tournament was held on home soil.

European Championship Journeys

UEFA European Championship record										Qualifying record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1960	Did not qualify									4	3	0	1	8	8
1964										3	1	0	2	4	5
1968										6	2	2	2	6	6
1972										6	3	1	2	10	6
1976										6	2	3	1	5	7
1980										8	4	1	3	10	11
1984	Semi-finals	3rd	4	1	2	1	4	4		6	5	0	1	11	6
1988	Did not qualify									8	2	4	2	6	8
1992										8	5	1	2	11	4
1996	Quarter-finals	5th	4	2	1	1	5	2		10	7	2	1	29	7
2000	Semi-finals	3rd	5	4	0	1	10	4		10	7	2	1	32	4
2004	Runners-up	2nd	6	3	1	2	8	6		Qualified as hosts
2008	Quarter-finals	7th	4	2	0	2	7	6		14	7	6	1	24	10
2012	Semi-finals	3rd	5	3	1	1	6	4		10	6	2	2	27	14
2016	Champions	1st	7	3	4	0	9	5		8	7	0	1	11	5
2020	Round of 16	13th	4	1	1	2	7	7		8	5	2	1	22	6
2024	Quarter-finals	8th	5	2	2	1	5	3		10	10	0	0	36	2
2028	To be determined									To be determined
2032
Total	1 Title	9/19	44	21	12	11	61	41		125	76	26	23	252	109

UEFA European Championship history
First match	Portugal 0–0 West Germany  (14 June 1984; Strasbourg, France)
Biggest win	Portugal 3–0 Croatia  (19 June 1996; Nottingham, England)
	Portugal 3–0 Germany  (20 June 2000; Rotterdam, Netherlands)
	Portugal 3–0 Hungary  (15 June 2021; Budapest, Hungary)
	Portugal 3–0 Turkey  (22 June 2024; Dortmund, Germany)
Biggest defeat	Switzerland 2–0 Portugal  (15 June 2008; Basel, Switzerland)
	Germany 4–2 Portugal  (19 June 2021; Munich, Germany)
	Georgia 2–0 Portugal  (26 June 2024; Gelsenkirchen, Germany)
Best result	Champions in 2016
Worst result	Round of 16 in 2020

* Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. Red border color indicates that the tournament was held on home soil.

UEFA Nations League Success

UEFA Nations League record
League phase / quarter-finals													Finals
Season	LG	Grp	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	IR		Year	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad	OR
2018–19	A	3	1st	4	2	2	0	5	3		2nd		2019	2	2	0	0	4	1	Squad	1st
2020–21	A	3	2nd	6	4	1	1	12	4		5th		2021	Did not qualify							5th
2022–23	A	2	2nd	6	3	1	2	11	3		6th		2023								6th
2024–25	A	1	1st	8	5	2	1	18	8		3rd		2025	2	1	1	0	4	3	Squad	1st
Total				24	14	6	4	46	18	—			Total	4	3	1	0	8	4	—

UEFA Nations League history
First match	Portugal 1–0 Italy  (10 September 2018; Lisbon, Portugal)
Biggest win	Portugal 4–0 Switzerland  (5 June 2022; Lisbon, Portugal)
	Portugal 5–1 Poland  (15 November 2024; Porto, Portugal)
Biggest defeat	Portugal 0–1 France  (14 November 2020; Lisbon, Portugal)
	Switzerland 1–0 Portugal  (12 June 2022; Geneva, Switzerland)
	Portugal 0–1 Spain  (27 September 2022; Braga, Portugal)
	Denmark 1–0 Portugal  (20 March 2025; Copenhagen, Denmark)
Best result	Champions in 2018–19, 2024–25
Worst result	6th in 2022–23

* Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. Red border color indicates that the tournament was held on home soil. * League phase is played home and away. Flag shown represents hosts nations for the finals.

FIFA Confederations Cup

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1992	Did not qualify
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2009
2013
2017	Third place	3rd	5	3	2	0	9	3
Total	Third place	1/10	5	3	2	0	9	3

FIFA Confederations Cup history
First match	Portugal 2–2 Mexico  (18 June 2017; Kazan, Russia)
Biggest win	New Zealand 0–4 Portugal  (24 June 2017; Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Biggest defeat	—
Best result	Third place in 2017
Worst result	—

* Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. Red border color indicates that the tournament was held on home soil.

Portugal's Overall Record

The following table shows Portugal's all-time international record, correct as of June 23, 2026.

Source: Portugal - Historical results

Honours

The UEFA Euro 2016 trophy in the Museu CR7, Madeira, Portugal.

World Stage Achievements

• FIFA World Cup
  • Third place (1): 1966
• FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Third place (1): 2017

European Trophies

• UEFA European Championship
  • Champions (1): 2016
  • Runners-up (1): 2004
• UEFA Nations League
  • Champions (2): 2019, 2025

Special Awards

• FIFA World Cup Most Entertaining Team: 2006
• Globe Soccer Awards Best National Football Team: 2025

Trophy Cabinet Summary

Competition				Total
FIFA World Cup	0	0	1	1
FIFA Confederations Cup	0	0	1	1
UEFA European Championship	1	1	0	2
UEFA Nations League	2	0	0	2
Total	3	1	2	6

Rivalries

• Portugal–Spain football rivalry

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Portugal para niños