Sixty years of this: Portugal’s 61 goals in World Cups

The first was just two minutes in, and the last by Rafael Leão. From England to Qatar, from Eusébio’s nine to Ronaldo’s eighth: the goals started with heads and ended with a rout (but without a happy ending).

From the brilliant debut, 60 years ago, with José Augusto scoring after just two minutes against Hungary, to Ronaldo’s inspired nights, Quaresma’s trebles and unexpected hat-tricks.

Between historic turnarounds, heavy disappointments and exciting late draws, the Portuguese trajectory in the World Cup has been based on hope, which, however, never took the team from the corners to a final.

So let’s set off on a journey that begins in a place that Cristiano Ronaldo would, many years later, call home for years.

England, 1966

The first, after just two minutes. Portugal 3-1 Hungary

In a World Cup with just 16 teams, it only took two minutes in their first participation in a World Cup for the Seleção to open the scoring. It happened on July 13th, at the mythical Old Trafford, in the form of a header from the SL Benfica legend, Joseph Augustus.

The striker would score again in the match, making it 2-1 seven minutes after the Hungarians had tied the game. Jose Torres sealed the 3-1 in the first game of a campaign that would prove to be historic for the Portuguese team.

The beginning of Eusebius’s nine. Portugal 3-0 Bulgaria

In the second game of Portugal’s first World Cup, the Reds’ historic striker began a streak of goals that would place him, to this day, in fourth place as the player with the most goals scored in a World Cup edition.

A great own goal, let’s say, by Ivan Vutsov, followed by goals from Eusebio and José Torres. This is how it happened on July 16, 1966.

Bye, Pelé. Portugal 3-1 Brazil

Three days after ‘crushing’ the Bulgarians, Portugal surprised everyone and everything against Pelé and the ‘Canarinha’ company, the defending champions.

Simões opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Eusébio increased the lead in the 27th with an assist from Torres. Rildo still reduced the score for Brazil, in the 70th minute, but the ‘Black Panther’ scored twice and killed the game, in the 85th minute.

‘Poker’ and the historical turnaround. Portugal 5-3 North Korea

Now, whoever does one and two, then he no longer does three — he does four.

Four days after Brazil, the day arrived that would go down in history as one of Portugal’s greatest games of all time.

Portugal was losing by three balls to zero, until Eusébio scored four goals between the 27th and 59th minutes. José Augusto completed the handful.

The encore of The Knight. England 2-1 Portugal

The team’s downfall in that 66 World Cup would only come in the semi-finals, at the feet of Bobby Charlton, who scored twice in the match to beat Portugal. Eusébio also scored, from the penalty spot, towards the end.

Podium, like never before. Portugal 2-1 Soviet Union

In the last game of the campaign, Eusébio scored first, from the penalty spot. After the Soviet draw, José Torres scored the goal that gave Portugal 3rd place, in their debut in a World Cup — to date, the best classification of the Portuguese team in a World Cup.

Mexico, 1986

The calm before the storm. Portugal 1-0 England

After a 20-year ‘drought’ in the final stages of the World Cup, everything started well with a goal from Carlos Manuel, near the far post, in the 75th minute, for a victory against the English.

Diamantino’s “hat of honor”. Portugal 1-3 Morocco

After a defeat against Poland (0-1)only the current television commentator, Diamondwho had come off the bench shortly before, scored again for Portugal in that ‘unsalted’ Portuguese participation.

Korea/Japan, 2002

Game lost at half an hour. United States 3-2 Portugal

Sixteen years later, another World Cup — and another disappointment, this time, with a team with Figo, Rui Costa, Vítor Baía and company, led by António Oliveira.

The group stage began with a bitter defeat against the United States, with goals from Beto and an own goal from Jeff Agoos, in a game where fans saw three goals in the space of 10 minutes. Portugal was losing 3-0 after 36 minutes.

Pau, Pau, Pau, Pauleta. Portugal 4-0 Poland

The second game revived the Portuguese’s hopes: a hat-trick from Pauleta against Poland. Rui Costa completed the rout in the 88th minute.

The third game, against South Korea (0-1) would bring down all the fans, after seeing João Vieira Pinto’s mythical ‘scissors’ (and then the controversial punch to the referee, which João Pinto denies) reducing the Seleção to 10 men in the 27th minute.

At the time, still working in Japan, he who would be a protégé of Alex Ferguson at the mythical Man United, Park Ji-Sung, António Oliveira’s delegation back to Lisbon. It would be the former FC Porto’s last game as Portuguese coach.

“Everything went wrong”, summarized João Pinto when talking about the setback with .

Germany, 2006

Start of Portugal’s second best World Cup. Angola 0-1 Portugal

In a move created by Luís Figo, Pauleta resolved, after four minutes, the first game against the Angolans.

Ronaldo’s first. Portugal 2-0 Iran

Scolari’s men resolved the group stage in the second game. Another victory followed, against Iran and, in the 80th minute of the game on June 17, the Portuguese scored the first of eight goals that Cristiano Ronaldo already takes part in World Championships today, after a “bag” of Deco opened the scoring in the 63rd minute.

Three in three. Portugal 2-1 Mexico

Closing the group stage, Sleeves scored early against Mexico, after just 6 minutes. Simon Sabrosaat 24, expanded, from the penalty spot.

The “Battle of Nuremberg”. Portugal 1-0 Netherlands

The first phase followed, in the round of 16 — the famous “Battle of Nuremberg”, which ended with victory over the Netherlands by the smallest margin and with… four expulsions and 16 yellow cards.

At seven minutes, two orange ones were already yellowish. Maniche was also booked, three minutes before giving Portugal the only goal of the match that would guarantee their place in the quarterfinals.

Costinha and Deco were expelled from the Brazilian side; the Dutch Boulahrouz and van Bronckhorst also left the four lines before the final whistle.

After his naked feat at Euro 2004, but this time with gloves, Ricardo was a hero, again against England (0-0)in the quarter-finals of this World Cup, in a goalless game that Portugal only resolved in the penalty (3-1).

It took Zinedine Zidane to reach the semi-finals to ruin the Portuguese party and the dream of a consecutive trip to the final of an international team competition. The legend’s goal, from a penalty, in the 33rd minute, resulted in defeat for France (0-1).

Goal of honor in the 21st minute. Germany 3-1 Portugal

Portugal’s second appearance in the semi-finals of a World Cup ended with fourth place, after defeat to the host, with a goal of honor from Nuno Gomes in the 88th minute, with a header, courtesy of a beautiful cross from Figo. It was the seventh and final Portuguese goal of the campaign two decades ago.

South Africa, 2010

Weak campaign, with the biggest defeat, but it was also the only game with Brazilian goals. In their debut in the Vuvuzelas Cup, the team did not quench their thirst, in a goalless game against Ivory Coast (0-0).

‘Cabazada’ finds out. Portugal 7-0 North Korea

The Ivorians were followed by a ‘basketball’ of 7 goals against North Korea, which guaranteed qualification — Portugal would later come up blank against the Brazil (0-0).

Interestingly, in that rain of goals, Portugal only opened the scoring around half an hour into the game and went into the break winning by the smallest margin. Of the seven goals, only Raúl Meirelesat 29 minutes, entered the first half. Simon Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida e Tiago they scored in the space of seven minutes to pave the way for the rout. And, in the final ten minutes, LiedsonRonaldo and once again Tiago sealed the result.

The team led by Carlos Queiroz fell in the round of 16, again without goals, against Spain (0-1)with a goal, half an hour from the end, by David Villa.

Brazil, 2014

The journey of 12 years ago was shaken right from the start by a very tough defeat against Germany (0-4)in which Pepe is sent off in the 27th minute for attacking the hat-trick scorer, Thomas Muller.

Varela still tried. United States 2-2 Portugal

Against the United States (2-2), Portugal without Pepe and Ricardo Costa arrived with everything to correct the setback from days before. With some mixed luck, Nani opened the scoring after just 5 minutes.

The result remained until the 63rd minute. Jermaine Jones tied the game for the USA and, less than 20 minutes later, the worst happened: Clint Dempsey gave the Americans the lead and was Silvestre Varelaat 90+5, who completed a surgical cross from CR7 and prevented the elimination of the corners in the second game of the ‘Copa’.

In the decisive game, which was not enough to win, Portugal took the lead with an own goal from John Boye, in the 30th minute.

After Ghana equalized, Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the 80th minute, with a pass offered by the Ghanaian goalkeeper. But it wasn’t enough to continue in the competition.

Russia, 2018

Ronaldo’s historic hat-trick. Portugal 3-3 Spain

In the opening game against The RedCristiano opened the scoring with a penalty after just 4 minutes.

Diego Costa leveled the game 20 minutes later, but Ronaldo scored again with half-time on the doorstep, giving Portugal the lead back.

Everything seemed lost after two quick Spanish goals (in the 55th and 58th minutes), but a ‘bomb’ from Ronaldo in the 88th minute, from a free kick, would go down in history as one of the Portuguese star’s best moments for the national team.

Tal, again. Portugal 1-0 Morocco

In the first victory against the Moroccans, the captain opened the scoring again in the 4th minute, here with a header, giving Portugal the victory by the smallest margin. It was ‘Cris’ fourth goal in the first two games of the competition, and it would be his last.

Quaresma’s trivela. Iran 1-1 Portugal

Closing the group stage, Portugal still trembled against Iran, but progressed thanks to a ‘Harry Potter’ trivela outside the area, closing the first half. Iran equalized in stoppage time, with a penalty.

The Cavani bogeyman. Uruguay 2-1 Portugal

In the first knockout round, Portugal was unable to face Edinson Cavani. Pepe scored the equalizer in the 55th minute, but the striker said goodbye to the national team.

Qatar, 2022

Typical suffering. Portugal 3-2 Ghana

In an opening game that had to be played to win, Portugal shook like crazy until the last game.

Ronaldo opened the scoring with a penalty in the 65th minute, but the equalizer came shortly after, with Andre Ayew.

João Felix made it 2-1 at 78 and Rafael Leao the third in the 80th, but Ghana still reduced and went to fight in the 89th minute.

Guaranteed eighths. Portugal 2-0 Uruguay

An old enemy followed, but Portugal (or Bruno Fernandes) resolved it with class. the ex-Sporting man scored both goals

Although Ronaldo claimed responsibility for the first, the former Sporting midfielder scored both goals. The first in the 54th minute, with a cross that deceived the goalkeeper; the second at 90+3, from a penalty, Ronaldo had already left.

Defeated, but leaders. South Korea 2-1 Portugal

Already determined, it was Ricardo Horta who, in the 5th minute, scored Portugal’s last goal in the group stage.

Ramos’ hat trick. Portugal 6-1 Switzerland

In a game in which Ronaldo starts on the bench and only enters in the 74th minute, a surprising festival of goals that raised morale.

Gonçalo Ramos opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a stunning goal into the top left corner. Pepe made it 2-0 in the 33rd, Ramos scored twice in the 51st, Raphael Guerreiro scored at 55, Ramos completed the hat-trick at 67 and Rafael Leão completed the rout, at 90+2.

“The airport is that way, Ronaldo.” Morocco 1-0 Portugal

Surprise in the quarterfinals: Morocco eliminated Portugal with a single goal from Youssef En-Nesyri, in the 42nd minute, in what, it was speculated at the time, could even be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup.

It wasn’t, and Ronaldo will be with Roberto Martínez’s entourage in the USA in a few days to make history. But his last memory of the World Cup left its mark…