The connection between the Seleção and cod has gained strength once again as another major international competition approaches. According to , a curious theory has circulated among fans for decades: that some of the Portuguese team’s greatest achievements and performances had the same common denominator at the table. Although there is no evidence of any relationship between results and food, the story continues to fuel conversations among generations of fans.
The origin of this narrative dates back to the 1966 World Cup. Legend says that Portugal consumed cod before all matches played in that competition, except before the defeat to England, a result that led to the team’s elimination. The story was never officially confirmed, but it has remained alive over the years and has become one of the best-known superstitions associated with the Selection.
Over time, new reports emerged that helped reinforce the idea. Some fans claim that Ricardo would have eaten cod before the historic game against England in the 2004 Euro Cup, when he saved a penalty without gloves and scored the decisive shot. Others recall episodes linked to the final of that same Euro Cup or the victory of Euro 2016, always with the same ingredient appearing as the protagonist of the stories.
Cod remains present
More than just superstition, cod has been a frequent presence in the national team’s meals. According to the same source, during the 2018 World Cup some players showed a preference for traditional Portuguese dishes prepared with this food.
Among the most cited examples are Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma, who would have chosen cod à Brás, while Pepe would have opted for grilled cod accompanied by onion. These episodes contributed to reinforcing the association between the Seleção and one of the most emblematic products of Portuguese gastronomy.
When reality feeds theory
One of the moments that most caught the attention of fans happened in 2021. Correio da Manhã remembers that the Portuguese delegation took around 150 kilos of cod to accompany the team during an international competition.
For many, it was just a logistical decision related to the athletes’ eating habits and comfort. For others, it was another chapter in an unofficial tradition that continues to survive over the decades.
The truth is that cod occupies a special place in Portuguese culture and, therefore, it is not surprising that it is also frequently present in the national team’s training camps and concentrations.
Between football and tradition
There is no data that allows us to conclude that the consumption of a certain food directly influences the results on the field. Even so, football has always lived on symbols, beliefs and small rituals that help build the identity of teams and fans.
It is precisely in this space between reality and superstition that the history of cod continues to gain new pages. Whether it works or not, no one can demonstrate. But whenever Portugal enters the field, this old narrative inevitably comes back to mind.
And perhaps this is the main reason for its survival: in a country where football and gastronomy are part of the collective memory, cod continues to occupy a special place, both at the table and in the imagination of fans.
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