5 Greatest Portuguese footballers of all time

Modified Nov 22, 2019 04:54 GMT

#1. Eusebio:

Eusebio was the greatest footballer Portugal has ever produced. He was a big and strong centre-forward and blessed with all the qualities a great forward should have. He had powerful shots, great finishing skills, and opportunism, and was technically very sound. He made Portugal one of the strongest footballing nations in the 1960s and remains one of the finest European footballers of all time.

Eusebio also was the greatest ever footballer to play for Benfica and contributed immensely towards their European Cup triumph in 1962. He also won 11 Portuguese first division titles with Benfica and scored a whopping 473 goals in 440 matches for them. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 1965.

Eusebio’s finest hour as a footballer came in the 1966 World Cup when he inspired Portugal to a last 4 finish. Portugal lost to eventual winners England 1-2 in the semi-final, but Eusebio won the Golden Boot by scoring 9 goals, including 4 against North Korea in a thrilling match, which saw Portugal come back from a 0-3 deficit to win 5-3.

Eusebio scored 41 goals in 64 matches for the Portuguese national team from 1961 to 1973. He died in 2014, and still remains an inspiration to many Portuguese footballers. He was also selected among the top 10 footballers of all time in the IFFHS’ world players of the century.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Zaid Khan