Portugal - France: Last five games, head-to-head and main goal scorers

Call it luck, destiny, or even a bit of both, but Portugal and France face each other this July 5th to determine the second semifinalist of this 2024 edition of the Euro. This match is one of the most highly anticipated games of the tournament with both countries have some of the best players in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Rúben Dias, Antoine Griezmann, Bruno Fernandes, Aurelién Tchouameni, and the list doesn’t stop there.

Although these countries have struggled to show their best versions of themselves during the competition, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez and his counterpart Didier Deschamps know all too well the importance of this match and what’s on the line: one will be closer to glory, and the other will return home empty-handed.

This game adds the newest chapter to a historical rivalry that started in 1926 when they first met in a friendly, in Toulouse, France. The game ended with a 4-2 win for the French, thanks to the goals of Fernand Brunel (2), Henri Salvano, and Georges Bonello. Augusto Silva and Joao dos Santos scored for the Selecão das Quinas.

From that initial Gallic victory, the rivalry between the two has only intensified over the years, with the clash now being a mouth-watering encounter, so let’s take a look at the recent games between the two and find out which country has come out on top, and who has scored the goals.

Last five matches between Portugal and France

Portugal 2-2 France: Euro 2021 Group Stage (June 23rd)

Curiously, the last time the countries faced each other was in the previous edition of the Euro. Portugal and France were drafted into the “Group of Death” with Germany and Hungary. The Portuguese squad arrived as the defending champions, while the French wanted to settle the scores after the 2016 Euro final and knock out Fernando Santo’s team at the group stages.

Cristiano Ronaldo (31′ p., and 60′ p.) and Karim Benzema (45+2 ' p., and 47′) scored in a game that was the first in Euros’ history to award three penalty kicks. Both teams qualified for the next stage, but Belgium sent the defending champions home in the round of 16. At the same time, with one of those once-in-a-lifetime comebacks, Switzerland demolished France’s aspirations in the quarterfinals.

Portugal 0-1 France: UEFA Nations League 2020-21 Group Stage (November 14th, 2020)

Portugal and France faced each other on Matchday 5 to determine the leader of Group A3 in the UEFA Nations League. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and inside an Estádio da Luz without fans, Deschamps’s team took the win thanks to a solitary goal from N’golo Kanté in a game that saw Portugal’s back-to-back title hopes gone.

France 0-0 Portugal: Nations League 2020-21 Group Stage (October 11th, 2020)

During the first leg of the group stages, France and Portugal collided for the first time after the 2016 Euro final. Although both teams won their first two group-stage games, there was still a long way to go to determine Group A3′s leader. Goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Rui Patricio were the stand out players in a game that lacked goals, with both sides failing to take an advantage in the table.

Portugal 1-0 France: Euro 2016 Final (July 10th, 2016)

The countries faced each other in a game that without a doubt is the biggest in the entire history of their rivalry. Portugal gave a magnificent display of resilience after qualifying third of their group and only winning one match in the tournament within 90 minutes. On the contrary, France arrived at the final as favorites after beating Germany in the semifinals.

Increasing the French chances, Cristiano Ronaldo had to be subbed off within the first 25 minutes of the game after being fouled by Payet. In a match where Rui Patricio made a series of amazing saves to keep Portugal’s dreams alive, Eder appeared as an unexpected hero during the second extra time, scoring a fantastic goal from outside the box, giving Portugal their first-ever international trophy.

Portugal 0-1 France: International Friendly (September 4th, 2015)

Before players like Mbappé, Bruno Fernandes, or Ousmane Dembélé bounced onto the scene, Mathieu Valbuena scored in the dying minutes of the match, extending France’s then unbeaten streak over Portugal to 10 games.

Historic head-to-head

The countries have faced each other on 28 occasions, and the French are currently on top:

Who is the all-time top goal scorer between Portugal and France?

Against all odds, Ernest Vaast for France and Portugal player Jose Manuel Soares Pepe lead as the top scorers, with four goals each. Behind them, Karim Benzema, Youri Djorkaeff, Just Fontaine, and Fernando Peyroteo are in joint second spot with three goals.

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Other players like Zinedine Zidane, Eusébio, and Thierry Henry have two goals. Cristiano Ronaldo is on the same tally; however, the Al-Nassr striker and soccer’s all-time top scorer can equal the record if he scores at least two goals. The Portuguese striker is, again, close to breaking another record.