Cristiano turned Portugal into winners: Before CR7, they had legendary players but always collapsed
The first name that comes to mind is the great Eusébio but Portugal has a long history of great players - Luis Figo, Quaresma, Deco...
Sitting seventh in the FIFA Coca-Cola world ranking, Portugal are one of the teams which many expect to go far at World Cup 2026 - they are among the favorites to lift the trophy with current odds at +800.
Strange as it may seem, considering the wealth of talent the country has produced, the closest Portugal has ever come to being crowned world champions was in 1966 when the team finish third. There was a fourth-place finish in 2006 and the shock defeat to Morocco in the quarter finals four years ago in Qatar.
Portugal’s success on the world stage
In terms of honors, success has only come relatively recently for Portugal which is surprising when you consider some of the world class players who have slipped on the red and green shirt of the Seleção - Luis Figo, Ricardo Quaresma, Deco, Rui Costa - and one of the greatest of all, Eusébio.
Portugal have won three major honors - all of them won during the Cristiano Ronaldo era and it’s no coincidence. The first trophy arrived a decade ago, when Portugal beat France to win Euro 2016. Cristiano and Nani finished with three goals each - including strikes in the semi-final against Gareth Bale’s Wales.
That was followed by two Nations League triumphs in 2019 and 2015.
Portugal, transformed by one man: Cristiano
Way before Cristiano made his senior debut in August 2003, Portugal boasted teams that had talent but were wildly inconsistent on the world stage. The numbers from those 82 pre‑Cristiano years paint a clear picture:
- Portugal before Cristiano — Euro appearances: 3 of 11 (27%)
- Portugal before Cristiano — World Cup appearances: 3 of 17 (18%)
- Portugal before Cristiano — Major titles: 0
Then Cristiano arrived — and everything changed. With 144 goals in 226 matches, his impact has been nothing short of historic:
- Portugal with Cristiano — Euro appearances: 6 of 6 (100%)
- Portugal with Cristiano — World Cup appearances: 6 of 6 (100%)
- Portugal with Cristiano — Major titles: 3
That’s a jump from six appearances in 28 major tournaments (21%) to a perfect 12 of 12 — 100%.
And from zero trophies to a European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles.
The conclusion many fans draw is blunt and hard to argue with: There has never been another player in soccer history whose arrival transformed a national team’s trajectory so dramatically.
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Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
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