The Portuguese national side endured quite a difficult time in the 21st century up until Euro 2016. They surprised everyone by beating tournament favourites France in the final to secure continental glory. Two years later, Portugal also won the UEFA Nations League in 2018.
It’s safe to say that the current Portuguese national team is one of the best in the business. They’ve got a squad that’s filled to the brim with wonderful players. They are not really short on world-class talent either.
Many Portuguese internationals play for some of the biggest clubs in the world. Without further ado, let’s take a look at five of the best Portuguese players in the world right now.
#5 Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
Portuguese international Raphael Guerreiro is a dynamic left-back who is also a technically gifted player. He has all the qualities you’d expect of a player who can play in any position across the left wing.
The Borussia Dortmund man is an excellent passer of the ball. He also packs explosive pace and showcases great touch, good ball progression skills, passing and movement. Guerreiro can also whip an occasional thunderbolt towards goal.
In 40 appearances across all competitions for Dortmund in the 2020-21 season, he scored six goals and provided 11 assists. Guerreiro is one of the first names on Fernando Santos’ teamsheet these days and it’s fair to say that he has absolutely earned it.
Guerreiro has started the 2021-22 season on a promising note, scoring two goals in four Bundesliga appearances already.
#4 Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
The Manchester City full-back had an excellent 2020-21 season. He was instrumental in the Cityzens winning the Premier League title and the Carabao Cup last term. Joao Cancelo’s technical proficiency allows him to play on either flank and he executes his responsibilities with great aplomb.
While Cancelo did not exactly hit the ground running at Manchester City following his arrival in 2019, he has since become an integral part of the squad. His pace, trickery and eye for a pass have all helped Pep Guardiola’s men abundantly since the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
Cancelo is good with the ball at his feet and so tactically intelligent that he is even deployed in central midfield from time to time. In the 2020-21 season, Cancelo scored three goals and provided five assists in 43 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City.
He was unfortunate to miss out on Euro 2020 after testing positive for Covid-19 prior to the tournament.
#3 Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Ruben Dias joined Manchester City in the summer of 2020 and wasted no time before turning in sensational performances at centre-back. Dias helped bring stability to Pep Guardiola’s defence as Manchester City cruised to the Premier League title.
The 24-year-old helped the Cityzens keep 15 cleansheets in 32 Premier League appearances in the 2020-21 season. He also struck up a wonderful partnership at centre-back with John Stones.
The former Benfica man won the Premier League Players’ Player of the Season Award for his exploits in the league. He was also a central figure in City’s League Cup triumph and their run to the final of the UEFA Champions League.
Dias is not only a tough-tackling centre-back but he is also a tactically intelligent and technically refined campaigner who suits City’s playing style to a T.
#2 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
The talismanic Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has had a galvanizing presence at the club since joining in January 2020. Not only is Fernandes an extremely creative and intelligent player, he is also a relentless, hardworking presence on the pitch.
Don’t be surprised if you see the 27-year-old make lung busting recovery runs in the closing stages of a game after having worked his socks off for the length of it. His leadership qualities and his work ethic have been a blessing to Manchester United and epitomize the values that Solskjaer wants his side to imbibe.
Fernandes was Manchester United’s top scorer and assist provider in the 2020-21 season. He scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists in 58 appearances across all competitions last term. The attacking midfielder started the 2021-22 Premier League season with a hat-trick against Leeds United.
His quick-thinking and ability to play delightful first-time balls make him a threat like no other and United will be banking heavily on him this season as well.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Cristiano Ronaldo simply defies description. At the age of 36, he has returned to his old hunting ground and has been going hell for leather ever since. It feels almost as though he never went away.
Ronaldo made a sensational return to Manchester United this summer and has scored in all three matches he has played so far. He has four goals in three matches for the Red Devils this season. It’s well in keeping with the kind of goalscoring form he has showcased over the past year as well.
Ronaldo won the Serie A Golden Boot after scoring 29 goals in 33 appearances in the league in the 2020-21 season. He also won the Golden Boot at Euro 2020, scoring five goals and providing an assist in four matches for Portugal.
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, neither Ronaldo’s workrate nor his productivity has suffered much. He is one of the greatest footballers of all time and is inarguably the best Portuguese player in the world right now.
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