33 articles
Adrien Silva
Adrien Silva, Portuguese central midfielder born 1989 in Angoulême, France; Sporting CP captain and Euro 2016 winner with 26 Portugal caps; Leicester's £22m signing delayed 14 seconds by FIFA; retired 2025.
André Gomes
André Gomes (André Filipe Tavares Gomes, born 1993, Grijó, Portugal), Portuguese central midfielder; Benfica, Valencia, Barcelona (2016, 35M+20M), Everton (2019, 25M), Lille loan and return, Columbus Crew from 2026; Euro 2016 winner. Not the Benfica goalkeeper or Wolves' Andre.
André Silva (footballer, born 2000)
André Filipe Teixeira da Silva (2000–2025), Portuguese attacking midfielder and left winger, brother of Diogo Jota; FC Porto academy product who played for Gondomar and Penafiel in Liga Portugal 2, 105 senior appearances, 12 goals; died in a car accident in Spain on 3 July 2025.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes, Portuguese midfielder born 1994 in Maia; Manchester United captain since January 2020 signing from Sporting. Record 21 Premier League assists in 2025/26, FWA Footballer of the Year, and league leader in chances created.
Costinha
Costinha (Francisco José Rodrigues da Costa, born 1974) is a Portuguese former defensive midfielder, 53 caps, who won the 2004 Champions League with FC Porto and later coached in Portugal.
Deco
Deco (Anderson Luis de Souza, born 1977, São Bernardo do Campo) is a Brazilian-born Portuguese former midfielder who won the Champions League with Porto and Barcelona, earned 75 Portugal caps, and became FC Barcelona's sporting director in August 2023.
Diogo Sousa (footballer, born 2006)
Diogo Lobão de Sousa (born 2006, Guimarães) is a Portuguese defensive midfielder, a Vitória SC academy product who won the 2025/26 Taça da Liga and joined RC Strasbourg Alsace in June 2026 for about €10 million.
Eduardo Felicíssimo
Eduardo Felicíssimo (Eduardo Manuel Freitas Monteiro Ferreira Felicíssimo), Portuguese midfielder born 2007 in Montijo; Sporting CP academy product, ex-Benfica youth, 7 first-team 2024/25 appearances, league and cup winner, contracted to 2030.
Fábio Vieira (footballer, born 2000)
Fábio Daniel Ferreira Vieira (born 2000), Portuguese left-footed attacking midfielder; Porto academy product and 2021-22 assist leader, signed by Arsenal for €35m plus €5m in 2022, later loaned to Porto and Hamburg, joining HSV permanently in 2025.
Flávio Gonçalves
Flávio Ferreira Gonçalves (born 2007) is a Portuguese attacking midfielder or winger for Sporting CP. Born in France, a Rio Ave youth product, he signed to 2030, broke into the first team in 2026/27, and plays for Portugal U21.
Gedson Fernandes
Gedson Carvalho Fernandes (born 1999, São Tomé) is a Portuguese midfielder from Benfica's academy; Primeira Liga 2019 winner, Tottenham loanee, Beşiktaş midfielder, now Spartak Moscow with 2 Portugal caps.
João Carlos Teixeira
João Carlos Teixeira (João Carlos Vilaça Teixeira, born 1993, Braga) is a Portuguese attacking midfielder, ex-Sporting CP youth player and Liverpool FC midfielder (2014-16, 8 apps, 1 goal), now at Shanghai Shenhua since April 2023, winner of the 2023 Chinese FA Cup.
João Mário (footballer, born 1993)
João Mário Naval da Costa Eduardo, born 1993 in Porto, Portuguese attacking midfielder; Euro 2016 winner with 56 caps, €45m Inter signing, later Benfica, Besiktas, and AEK Athens.
João Moutinho
João Moutinho (born 1986, Portimão) is a Portuguese central midfielder at SC Braga; Euro 2016 and Nations League winner, formerly of Sporting, Porto, Monaco, and Wolves.
João Palhinha
João Palhinha (born 1995, Lisbon) is a Portuguese defensive midfielder at Benfica; formerly Sporting, Fulham, Bayern Munich (Bundesliga 2024/25) and Tottenham loan; 37-cap Portugal international, Nations League 2024/25 winner.
João Rego
João Rego (João Pedro Seno Luís Rêgo, born 2005, Beja) is a Portuguese attacking midfielder, Benfica academy product, now on loan at Casa Pia for 2026/27; Portugal youth international, Taça da Liga winner 2024/25. Not Rodrigo Rêgo.
João Simões (footballer, born 2007)
João Simões (João Pedro Arnauth Barrocas Simões), Portuguese midfielder born 2007 in Portimão; Sporting CP academy product, left-footed, 2024/25 league and cup double winner, contract to 2030 with €80M clause.
Maniche
Maniche (Nuno Ricardo Oliveira Ribeiro, born 1977, Lisbon), Portuguese midfielder; won UEFA Cup 2003 and Champions League 2004 with Porto under Mourinho, 52 Portugal caps, EURO 2004 finalist, retired 2012.
Matheus Nunes
Matheus Nunes (Matheus Luiz Nunes), Brazilian-born Portuguese midfielder born 1998 in Rio de Janeiro; bakery worker turned Ericeirense, Estoril, Sporting, Wolves (£38m record), and Manchester City (£53m) player; Portugal international, EURO 2024 squad.
Mezian Mesloub
Mezian Mesloub Soares (Mezian Mesloub), born 2009 in Martigues, is a Lens forward and Portugal U17 international who scored seconds into his Ligue 1 debut in May 2026, son of former Lens and Algeria player Walid Mesloub.
Otávio (footballer, born 1995)
Otávio (Otávio Edmilson da Silva Monteiro), born 1995 in João Pessoa, Brazil, is a Portuguese international midfielder; three-time Portuguese champion with FC Porto, later Al Nassr, Al Qadsiah, and a 2026 move to Qatar.
Pedro Gonçalves
Pedro Gonçalves (Pote), Portuguese attacking midfielder born 1998 in Vidago; Sporting CP number 8 since 2020, three league titles, 2020/21 Primeira Liga top scorer, Portugal Euro 2020 squad member.
Petit (Portuguese footballer)
Petit (Armando Gonçalves Teixeira), Portuguese defensive midfielder born 1976 in Strasbourg; 57 caps, 4 goals, World Cups 2002 and 2006; league titles with Boavista 2001 and Benfica 2005.
Raul Meireles
Raul Meireles (Raul Jose Trindade Meireles, born 1983, Porto), Portuguese midfielder for Porto, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Fenerbahce; 2012 Champions League winner, 76 Portugal caps, retired 2016.
Renato Sanches
Renato Júnior Luz Sanches (born 1997, Lisbon) is a Portuguese central midfielder; Benfica product, Euro 2016 winner and Golden Boy 2016, Bayern €35M signing, Ligue 1 champion with Lille 2020/21, later PSG with loans to Roma, Benfica, Panathinaikos.
Rony Lopes
Rony Lopes (Marcos Paulo Mesquita Lopes), Portuguese right winger born 1995 in Belém, Brazil; ex-Manchester City youngest scorer, Monaco, Sevilla; 2 Portugal caps; now Motor Lublin.
Rúben Neves
Rúben Diogo da Silva Neves (born 1997), Portuguese midfielder; youngest Champions League captain (18y 221d, Porto 2015), Wolves' record £15.8m signing, now Al-Hilal captain-figure with 66 Portugal caps and 2026 World Cup.
Rui Costa
Rui Costa (Rui Manuel César Costa), Portuguese attacking midfielder born 1972 in Amadora; Benfica, Fiorentina and AC Milan playmaker, 94 Portugal caps, 1991 U-20 world champion, now 34th president of SL Benfica.
Serginho (footballer, born 1999)
Serginho (Sérgio Miguel Lobo Araújo, born 1999) is a Portuguese attacking midfielder for Levski Sofia. Youth product of Vitória SC and Moreirense; won Liga Portugal 2 2023/24 with Santa Clara; distinct from the 1972-born Brazilian AC Milan Serginho.
Sérgio Oliveira
Sérgio Oliveira (Sérgio Miguel Relvas de Oliveira, born 1992, Paços de Brandão) is a Portuguese central midfielder, FC Porto academy product and captain, 13-cap Portugal international, later of Roma, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, and Sport Recife.