Portugal’s first participation in a major tournament finals, at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, saw a team featuring famed striker Eusébio finish in third place. The next two times Portugal qualified for the World Cup finals were in 1986 and 2002, going out in the first round both times. At Euro 2016, Portugal won its first ever major trophy, defeating France after extra time, with the winning goal scored by Eder. With the win, Portugal qualified and made its first appearance in the FIFA Confederations Cup, where they finished third.

 

First game: Portugal vs Spain (15/06)

Star: Cristiano Ronaldo

By age 22, he had already received Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations and at age 23, he won his first Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

Cristiano Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015

Top goal scorer in the 21st century with 512 or something goals, Cristiano is one of the best, football world has ever seen.

His sustained performance has enabled him to break numerous records for goal scoring and has been named FIFA player of the year (Ballon d’Or) five times.

 

Coach: Fernando Santos

Fernando Santos is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a defender, and who is now the manager of the portuguese national team.

Santos managed Portugal’s big three (Benfica, Sporting and Porto), winning five major titles with Porto.

In 2014, Santos was chosen as the new manager of the portuguese national team, after Paulo Bento. 

Two years later, in the Euro 2016, after three group stage draws that enabled group stage qualification as third, Fernando Santos led Portugal to its first-ever international conquest, after defeating France in the Finals.

Group: Spain, Morocco, IR Iran.