Top 10 Portugal top scorers in the history of football

Portugal’s top scorers of all time in football are players who have scored the most goals in official matches for the Portugal national football team. The country, one of the best in the sport, has produced some of the most prolific forwards and the world’s best.

Portugal’s top scorers include legendary players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Eusébio, and Pauleta. We have analysed data from Statista to compile a list of Portugal’s best scorers as of May 2024.

Who are the top 10 Portugal’s top scorers of all time in football?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the undisputed king of goals for Portugal and the football world. Besides him, Portugal has also produced other legendary figures who bagged goals, guiding the team to victories. Let us take a look at these all-time top scorers and their profiles.

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10. João Manuel Vieira Pinto | 22

• Date of birth: August 19, 1971
• Place of birth: Porto, Portugal
• Height: 1.71 m
• Position: Forward

The forward scored 22 goals in 81 games and played for the Portuguese national team in Euro 1996, Euro 2000, and the 2002 World Cup. In late 1992, his career was at stake after he suffered a collapsed lung during an international match for Portugal versus Scotland in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

9. Tamagnini Manuel Gomes Batista (Nené) | 22

• Date of birth: November 20, 1949
• Place of birth: Leça da Palmeira, Portugal
• Height: 1.72 m
• Position: Striker

Nené made his international debut on April 21, 1971, in a 2–0 win over Scotland in a UEFA Euro 1972 qualifiers game. In the 1970s, he was one of the most lethal strikers and constantly challenged Eusebio for the ‘Portuguese Footballer of the Year Award’.

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Nené helped Portugal reach the semi-finals of the 1984 Euro Championship. He scored the only goal against Romania in the last group stage match, becoming the oldest player to score in the European championship finals at 34 years and 213 days.

8. Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (Nani) | 24

• Date of birth: November 17, 1986
• Place of birth: Amadora, Portugal
• Height: 1.77 m
• Position: Winger

Nani scored in his national team debut in 2006. He played in three European Championships (2008, 2012, and 2016) and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Nani captained his nation in the UEFA Euro 2016 final win against France. He finished his career with 112 caps and 24 goals for his country.

7. Rui Manuel César Costa | 26

• Date of birth: March 29, 1972
• Place of birth: Amadora, Portugal
• Height: 1.80 m
• Position: Attacking midfielder

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Costa made his first senior national team appearance on March 31, 1993, when he played in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland during the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He is generally considered one of the most skilled playmakers and attacking midfielders. In 2004, he was featured on Pele’s FIFA 100 list of the 125 greatest living football players.

6. Hélder Manuel Marques Postiga | 27

• Date of birth: August 2 1982
• Place of birth: Vila do Conde, Portugal
• Height: 1.82 m
• Position: Striker

Postiga debuted for Portugal’s national side on February 12, 2003, in a friendly match against Italy. He scored a brace in his first start on June 10 during a 4-0 win over Bolivia. The legendary striker played in two World Cups and three European Championships. Postiga helped his nation reach the Euro 2004 final.

5. Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro (Nuno Gomes) | 29

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• Date of birth: July 5 1976
• Place of birth: Amarante, Portugal
• Height: 1.81 m
• Position: Striker

Nuno Miguel earned the nickname “Gomes” during childhood after Fernando Gomes and was considered one of Portugal’s most recognisable attacking players in the 1990s and 2000s.

Miguel made his debut against France in 1996 at 19. He scored his first goal for Portugal during UEFA Euro 2000’s opening match. Gomes has represented Portugal in two World Cups and three European Championships.

4. Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo | 32

• Date of birth: 4 November 1972
• Place of birth: Almada, Portugal
• Height: 1.80 m
• Position: Winger

Figo played in three European Championships and two World Cups. He guided Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and the 2006 World Cup semi-finals.

His senior debut was against Luxembourg on October 16 1991, and he scored his first goal in a 2–1 friendly win over Bulgaria in Paris on November 11, 1992. Figo won the 2000 Ballon d’Or, the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year and was included in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players by Pelé in 2004.

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3. Eusébio da Silva Ferreira | 41

• Date of birth: January 25 1942
• Place of birth: Maputo, Mozambique
• Date of death: January 5 2014
• Place of death: Lisbon, Portugal
• Height: 1.75 m
• Position: Striker

With his fast pace, the legendary Eusébio embodied the modern striker of the 100m 21st century. Nicknamed the “Black Panther,” his quick starts often left his markers grappling with air. Eusébio won the 1968 and 1973 European Golden Boots.

Where was Eusébio from?

Eusébio was born on 25th January 1942 in Mafalala, Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), in Portuguese Mozambique. His father, Laurindo António da Silva Ferreira, was a white Angolan railroad worker from Malanje, and his mother, Elisa Anissabeni, was a black Mozambican.

2. Pedro Miguel Carreiro Resendes (Pauleta) | 47

• Date of birth: April 28 1973
• Place of birth: Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
• Height: 1.80 m
• Position: Striker

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Pauleta debuted for Portugal in 1997 against Armenia and scored his first international goals with a brace against Azerbaijan in 1999. He later became Portugal’s highest-ever scorer before Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record.

The former striker spent 12 seasons in Spanish and French leagues. He represented his country in two World Cups and two European Championships.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro | 128

• Date of birth: February 5 1985
• Place of birth: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
• Height: 1.87 m
• Position: Forward

Cristiano Ronaldo has over 1,200 professional career appearances, the highest number ever recorded for an outfield player. He has over 890 official senior career goals for his club and country, making him the all-time leading goalscorer.

Ronaldo netted his first international goal in Euro 2004 and reached the final with the team. He took over as captain of their national team in July 2008 and guided them to Euro 2016 and UEFA Nations League 2019 title. Ronaldo also bagged the Euro 2020 golden boot.

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Trivia

The list of Portugal’s top goal scorers includes players who have made an everlasting impression in football. These individuals scored many goals and played a significant part in their country’s achievements on the worldwide stage.

Who is the highest goal scorer for Portugal?

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal’s top scorer with 128 goals (as of May 2024). He is also the most capped (206).

Who is the highest goal scorer in football history in 2024?

Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-recorded goal scorer in football history, with over 890 official senior career goals for his club and country.

Which Portuguese player has the most goals in the World Cup?

Eusébio is the all-time top scorer for Portugal in the FIFA World Cup events history as of May 2024. He scored nine times from only six matches when he was an active player at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, which took place in England.

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Which Portugal player has the highest number of goals in one match?

Cristiano Ronaldo, Pauleta, Nuno Gomes, and Eusébio scored four times for Portugal’s national soccer team during a single match.

Final word

On the list of Portugal’s top goal scorers, Eusébio, Ronaldo, and Pauleta are some of the names that will remain for decades. Together, these players have contributed much to the history of football in Portugal and are considered legends.

READ ALSO: Who are the 10 greatest Portuguese footballers in football history?

Sports Brief published an article about the 10 greatest Portuguese footballers. These footballers have made their mark in the industry, earning top positions in various clubs and national teams. Some individuals were born in Portugal and later moved to other countries to pursue their professional careers. Click the above link to discover more.