Portugal national under-21 football team

In today's world, Portugal national under-21 football team is a topic that has captured the attention of a large number of people. With its relevance in our contemporary society, Portugal national under-21 football team is a topic that undoubtedly arouses the interest of people of all ages, genders and cultures. Portugal national under-21 football team has been the subject of numerous studies, debates and discussions, and its importance continues to increase. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the impact and relevance of Portugal national under-21 football team in our daily lives, examining its different aspects and its influence in various areas.

Portugal Under-21
Nickname(s)Esperanças (Hopes)
AssociationFederação Portuguesa
de Futebol
Head coachRui Jorge
CaptainHenrique Araújo
Most capsManuel Fernandes (30)
Top scorerHugo Almeida (16)
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Portugal 3–1 South Africa 
(Lisbon, Portugal; 16 November 1958)
Biggest win
 Portugal 11–0 Liechtenstein 
(Vizela, Portugal; 7 October 2021)
Biggest defeat
 Italy 6–0 Portugal 
Piacenza, Italy; 2 December 1987
Records for competitive
matches only.
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances10 (first in 1994)
Best resultRunners-up (1994, 2015, 2021)

The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future.

Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Portuguese under-21 team was formed. Until 1994, the team had a rather poor record, failing to qualify for each of the first eight UEFA under-21 Championships. Since 1994, the team has improved its record greatly, qualifying for five of the next seven tournaments, including the 2006 finals.

Having qualified for the 2006 tournament finals, UEFA announced that Portugal would host the finals in May and June. From 2007 onwards, host nations will be announced before the qualification stage and will not need to qualify.

Competitive record

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Year Round Position Games Won Drawn Lost GF GA
1978 did not qualify
1980
1982 did not enter
1984 did not qualify
1986
1988
1990
1992
France 1994 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 0 1 7 2
Spain 1996 Quarter-finals 7th 2 1 0 1 1 2
Romania 1998 did not qualify
Slovakia 2000
Switzerland 2002 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 4 4
Germany 2004 Third place 3rd 5 2 1 2 9 11
Portugal 2006 Group stage 6th 3 1 0 2 1 3
Netherlands 2007 Group stage 6th 4 1 2 1 5 2
Sweden 2009 did not qualify
Denmark 2011
Israel 2013
Czech Republic 2015 Runners-up 2nd 5 2 3 0 7 1
Poland 2017 Group stage 3 2 0 1 7 5
Italy 2019 did not qualify
Hungary Slovenia 2021 Runners-up 2nd 6 5 0 1 12 4
Romania Georgia (country) 2023 Quarter-finals 4 1 1 2 3 5
Total Runners-up 10/24 39 19 8 12 56 39
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won.
***Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Player records

Top appearances

As of 18 November 2024[1]
Rank Player Club(s) Year(s) U-21 Caps
1 Manuel Fernandes Benfica, Portsmouth, Everton, Valencia 2004–2008 30
2 Silvestre Varela Sporting CP, Casa Pia, Vitória Setúbal 2004–2007 28
Paulo Bernardo Benfica, Paços Ferreira, Celtic 2021–
Ricardo Quaresma Sporting CP, Barcelona, Porto 2002–2006
João Pereira Benfica, Gil Vicente, Braga 2004–2008
6 Fernando Brassard Marítimo, Gil Vicente, Vitória Guimarães 1991–1994 27
Henrique Araújo Benfica, Watford, Famalicão, Arouca 2021–
Hugo Almeida Porto, União Leiria, Boavista, Werder Bremen 2002–2007
9 Ednilson Roma, Benfica 2000–2003 26
Raul Meireles Aves, Boavista, Porto 2003–2006
Fábio Silva Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Las Palmas 2021–

Note: Club(s) represents the clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.

Top goalscorers

As of 18 November 2024[2]
Rank Player Club(s) Year(s) U-21 Goals
1 Hugo Almeida Porto, União Leiria, Boavista, Werder Bremen 2002–2007 16
2 Gonçalo Ramos Benfica 2020–2022 14
Fábio Silva Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Las Palmas 2021–
Fábio Vieira Porto, Arsenal 2019–2023
5 Toni Porto, Braga 1992–1994 12
Hélder Postiga Porto, Tottenham 2001–2003
7 Henrique Araújo Benfica, Watford, Famalicão, Arouca 2021– 11
8 Paulo Bernardo Benfica, Paços Ferreira, Celtic 2021– 10
9 Diogo Gonçalves Benfica, Nottingham Forest 2017–2018 8
Paulo Costa Alverca, Inter Milan, Reggina, Porto 2000–2002
Simão Sabrosa Sporting CP, Barcelona 1998–2001
Diogo Jota Paços Ferreira, Atlético Madrid, Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2015–2018
Rui Fonte Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Sporting CP, Vitória Setúbal, Espanyol 2008–2012

Note: Club(s) represents the clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.

Players

Current squad

Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

The following 23[note 1] players were called up for the preparation matches against Ukraine and Slovakia on 15 and 18 November 2024, respectively.[3][4]

Caps and goals correct as of: 18 November 2024, after the match against  Slovakia

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK João Carvalho (2004-04-09) 9 April 2004 (age 20) 4 0 Portugal Braga
12 1GK Diogo Pinto (2004-06-18) 18 June 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Portugal Sporting CP
2 2DF Danilo Veiga (2002-09-25) 25 September 2002 (age 22) 2 0 Italy Lecce
3 2DF João Muniz (2005-06-26) 26 June 2005 (age 19) 2 0 Portugal Rio Ave
4 2DF Eduardo Quaresma (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 23) 11 0 Portugal Sporting CP
5 2DF Rafael Rodrigues (2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 (age 23) 12 1 Portugal AVS
13 2DF Flávio Nazinho (2003-07-20) 20 July 2003 (age 21) 2 0 Belgium Cercle Brugge
14 2DF Chico Lamba (2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Portugal Arouca
15 2DF Christian Marques (2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 22) 3 0 Switzerland Yverdon-Sport
23 2DF Rodrigo Gomes (2003-07-07) 7 July 2003 (age 21) 11 3 England Wolverhampton
6 3MF Dário Essugo (2005-03-14) 14 March 2005 (age 19) 7 0 Spain Las Palmas
7 3MF Mateus Fernandes (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 20) 11 3 England Southampton
8 3MF Paulo Bernardo (Vice-captain) (2002-01-24) 24 January 2002 (age 23) 28 10 Scotland Celtic
16 3MF Martim Neto (2003-01-14) 14 January 2003 (age 22) 5 0 Portugal Rio Ave
18 3MF Gustavo Sá (2004-11-11) 11 November 2004 (age 20) 4 0 Portugal Famalicão
19 3MF João Marques (2002-02-13) 13 February 2002 (age 23) 8 1 Portugal Braga
9 4FW Henrique Araújo (Captain) (2002-01-19) 19 January 2002 (age 23) 27 11 Portugal Arouca
10 4FW Pedro Santos (2003-02-10) 10 February 2003 (age 22) 9 3 Portugal Moreirense
11 4FW Tiago Tomás (2002-06-16) 16 June 2002 (age 22) 19 2 Germany VfL Wolfsburg
21 4FW Carlos Forbs (2004-03-19) 19 March 2004 (age 20) 9 3 England Wolverhampton
24 4FW Diego Moreira (2004-08-06) 6 August 2004 (age 20) 5 0 France Strasbourg

Recent call-ups

The following players have previously been called up to the under-21 squad and remain eligible for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Samuel Soares (2002-06-15) 15 June 2002 (age 22) 13 0 Portugal Benfica v.  Andorra, 15 October 2024
GK André Gomes (2004-10-20) 20 October 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Portugal Benfica v.  Andorra, 15 October 2024
GK Francisco Silva (2005-11-20) 20 November 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Portugal Sporting CP v.  Croatia, 10 September 2024
GK Francisco Lemos (2002-09-13) 13 September 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Portugal Atlético CP v.  Greece, 20 November 2023
GK Gonçalo Ribeiro (2006-01-15) 15 January 2006 (age 19) 0 0 Portugal Porto v.  Belarus, 12 September 2023
DF Tiago Santos (2002-07-23) 23 July 2002 (age 22) 5 0 France Lille v.  Andorra, 15 October 2024
DF Gabriel Brás (2004-03-25) 25 March 2004 (age 20) 2 1 Portugal Porto v.  Andorra, 15 October 2024
DF Rodrigo Pinheiro (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Portugal Famalicão v.  Andorra, 15 October 2024
DF Tomás Araújo AA (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) 10 0 Portugal Benfica v.  Faroe Islands, 11 October 2024
DF Renato Veiga (2003-07-29) 29 July 2003 (age 21) 7 1 Italy Juventus v.  Croatia, 26 March 2024
DF Tomás Esteves (2002-04-03) 3 April 2002 (age 22) 5 0 Italy Pisa v.  Croatia, 26 March 2024
DF Leonardo Buta (2002-06-05) 5 June 2002 (age 22) 3 0 Portugal Moreirense v.  Croatia, 26 March 2024
DF Rafael Fernandes INJ (2002-06-28) 28 June 2002 (age 22) 0 0 France Lille v.  Greece, 20 November 2023
DF André Amaro INJ (2002-08-13) 13 August 2002 (age 22) 4 0 Qatar Al-Rayyan v.  Andorra, 8 September 2023
MF Vasco Sousa (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 (age 21) 13 0 Portugal Porto v.  Andorra, 15 October 2024
MF Bernardo Folha INJ (2002-03-23) 23 March 2002 (age 22) 3 0 United Arab Emirates Al Wahda v.  Faroe Islands, 11 October 2024
MF Hugo Félix (2004-03-03) 3 March 2004 (age 21) 1 0 Portugal Benfica v.  Greece, 17 October 2023
MF João Neves (2004-09-27) 27 September 2004 (age 20) 6 1 France Paris Saint-Germain v.  Belarus, 12 September 2023
FW Fábio Silva AA (2002-07-19) 19 July 2002 (age 22) 26 14 Spain Las Palmas v.  Slovakia, 18 November 2024
FW Geovany Quenda AA (2007-04-30) 30 April 2007 (age 17) 3 0 Portugal Sporting CP v.  Slovakia, 18 November 2024
FW Rodrigo Mora (2007-05-05) 5 May 2007 (age 17) 2 0 Portugal Porto v.  Andorra, 15 October 2024
FW Youssef Chermiti (2004-05-24) 24 May 2004 (age 20) 2 1 England Everton v.  Croatia, 26 March 2024
FW Francisco Conceição (2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 22) 23 6 Italy Juventus v.  Greece, 20 November 2023
FW Tiago Morais (2003-09-03) 3 September 2003 (age 21) 3 0 Portugal Rio Ave v.  Greece, 20 November 2023

AA Player withdrew from the squad due to a call-up to the senior squad.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
OTH Player withdrew from the squad due to other reasons.
PRE Preliminary squad.

Head coaches

As of 14 November 2017[5]
Manager Period Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Portugal José Alberto Costa –1993 12 8 1 3 22 10 +12 066.67
Portugal Nelo Vingada 1994–1996 22 14 5 3 33 14 +19 063.64
Portugal Jesualdo Ferreira 1996–2000 33 19 5 9 64 36 +28 057.58
Portugal Agostinho Oliveira 2000–2002 22 11 4 7 39 21 +18 050.00
Portugal Rui Caçador 2002 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 066.67
Portugal José Romão 2002–2004 18 12 2 4 44 27 +17 066.67
Portugal Rui Caçador 2004 1 0 1 0 0 0 +0 000.00
Portugal Agostinho Oliveira 2004–2006 18 14 1 3 36 9 +27 077.78
Portugal José Couceiro 2006–2007 13 7 3 3 22 9 +13 053.85
Portugal Rui Caçador 2007–2009 27 15 4 8 54 22 +32 055.56
Portugal Oceano Cruz 2009–2010 12 6 2 4 17 12 +5 050.00
Portugal Rui Jorge 2010–present 69 47 14 8 154 54 +100 068.12

Source: [6]

Honours

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Reduced to 21 after the match against Ukraine

References

  1. ^ "Jogadores" . FPF.pt. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Jogadores" . FPF.pt. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Convocados para encontros de preparação" (in Portuguese). Federação Portuguesa de Futebol. 8 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Danilo Veiga: "não há partidas fáceis ao mais alto nível"" (in Portuguese). Federação Portuguesa de Futebol. 16 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Portugal-Suíca" [Portugal - Switzerland]. FPF.pt. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Portugal-Suíca" [Portugal - Switzerland]. FPF.pt. Retrieved 12 December 2017.