Spain sponsors Portugal’s debut
In 1921, the “Representative Group of Portugal” debuted against Spain with a defeat (3-1). A competition that took place eight years after the start of negotiations and the decision of who would pay the cost of the trip to Madrid. For history, the goal of honor has been scored by António Augusto, the first of the national team. It took another 25 years and 21 matches for Portugal to beat Spain (in 1947, although the Portuguese won some matches during the Spanish Civil War that were not recognized by FIFA). More than 100 years later, the umbilical cord continues to exist. Today marks the 43rd chapter (11th official among 32 private parties) of an age-old rivalry: 17 Spanish triumphs, 17 draws and eight Portuguese victories – just one of them in an official match, at Euro 2004, with a goal from Nuno Gomes (1 -0), in a match marked by Ronaldo’s debut.
Iker Casillas, a world champion among many flops
Crossing the border from Spain to Portugal has always been more complicated than from here to there. Most of the 92 Spaniards who played in the Portuguese league achieved little or nothing. Iker Casillas finally brought good wind in 2015 and Pablo Sarabia maintained the level in the 2020-21 season. The goalkeeper arrived at FC Porto after 16 seasons in the Real Madrid goal. A player of world-class status and charisma that quickly won fans over. In 156 dragons on his chest, over five seasons, he became national champion and won a Supercup. At Dragão, he ended his career in 2019 after he suffered a stroke during training. Capdevilla was one of the flops. He arrived in Luz in the summer of 2011 at the age of 33, after becoming world champion. He only played 10 games for Benfica and left without being missed. Such as Roberto, Chano or Raúl de Tomás, the Sporting players Angulo and Jeffrén, and the Porto players Jose Ángel and Adrián Lopez.
When Luís Figo Divided Spain
The case was so popular that Luís Figo is still considered persona non grata in Barcelona to this day, and the controversy recently even got the honor of a documentary on Netflix. Figo was almost a god in Barcelona (where he arrived from Sporting in 1995), but at the time of his contract renewal he felt his worth and influence was not being rewarded by then-President Joan Gaspart. At the same time, an illustrious stranger in Madrid’s rival tried to become president. And it was then that an operation was set up that culminated in one of the most controversial transfers ever. Between progress and setbacks, and pressure from businessman José Veiga and Paulo Futre, and with the election of Florentino Pérez, on July 24, 2000, Figo left the Catalans and signed for the eternal rival of Madrid, in exchange for the termination clause of 12 billion escudos , the most expensive transfer in world football at the time. Then he knows that every time he visited Camp Nou he was insulted – he even earned the nickname pesetero – and on his first trip to the Barcelona pitch he was even thrown with a pig’s head.
From Mourinho and Queiroz to Fernández and Camacho
António Oliveira was the pioneer of Portuguese coaches in Spain (Bétis in 1975), but none had the success and media attention of José Mourinho, who led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and won a Spanish Championship, a Spanish Cup and a Super Cup won. . In total, 11 Portuguese have coached in La Liga, with Carlos Queiroz also emphasizing that he has coached Real Madrid (2003-04). In the opposite direction, more than 20 Spaniards coached Portuguese teams. Victor Fernández won an Intercontinental Cup and a Supercup at FC Porto and Lopetegui also coached the Dragons (without trophies). At Benfica were Jose António Camacho (a Portuguese Cup) and Quique Flores (a League Cup). Also noteworthy is Paco Fortes, who took Farense to a European competition for the first time (1994-95).
Gomes Bravo opened the door. Futre was the first star
José Maria Gomes Bravo was the first Portuguese footballer to play in the Spanish Liga I on February 22, 1948. The midfielder left Estoril for Real Sociedad and in his debut against Celta de Vigo he scored a goal and was awarded the right to play in the San Sebastián club still one and a half season, a total of 15 goals in 38 games. Its name was lost among the 153 Portuguese who paraded through the lawns of Spain’s highest level over the years. While stars like Jorge Mendonça, João Alves, Rui Jordão, Vítor Damas, António Oliveira and Fernando Gomes have left their mark on the clubs they represented, it took nearly 40 years for a Portuguese to be hailed as the championship’s biggest star: Paulo futre. The winger arrived at Atlético de Madrid in 1987, after winning European champions with FC Porto, and quickly became an icon in Spanish football, even captaining the colchoneros, a club he represented in seven seasons, with in total 51 goals in 225 matches. Futre was something of an ambassador, opening the door for other Portuguese to become stars in Spanish countries, with Luis Figo, Deco and Cristiano Ronaldo following in his footsteps in the media.
Spanish dominance in European Cup broken by Benfica
Benfica was the club that broke Real Madrid’s grip on the European Cup. The Mergues won the first five editions of the competition, led by stars such as Paco Gento, Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano. However, in 1960/61 there was a testimonial where the Reds beat a super Barcelona (Real Madrid was out). In the final in Bern, the team, coached by Hungarian Béla Guttmann, won 3-2, still without Eusébio and António Simões, but led by Mário Coluna and José Águas, who each scored one goal (the other was an own goal from the keeper Ramallets). The settlement between the only two European champion clubs at the time took place the following season, with Benfica beating Real Madrid 5-3 in the final, in a match in which Eusébio (two goals) destroyed what was considered the best team in the world . Puskas scored a hat-trick in the first half, but in addition to Pantera Negra’s goals to seal the win, the Reds got the right shots from José Águas, Cavém and Coluna.
Ronaldo breaks records at Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo marked an era at Manchester United, but in the summer of 2009 he was presented with pomp as a reinforcement for Real Madrid, in a ceremony with thousands of fans in the stands, flanked by Eusébio and Di Stefano, and to hear the sound of “A My Little House” by Xutos & Pontapés. He wore white between 2009 and 2018 and became a club legend. He won titles, breaking record after record, until he left for Juventus in the summer of 2018. For the Merengues, he won 16 trophies, of which the four Champions Leagues, the two Spanish Championships and three European Super Cups stand out. At the individual level, four of his five Ballons d’Or/The Best were won representing the Whites. The legacy he left with the club is unsurpassed. He became the top goalscorer in Real history with 450 goals – surpassing Raúl (323 goals) and Di Stéfano (308 goals) – he won three UEFA Golden Boots, three Pichichis trophies (top goalscorer in the Spanish league), three of the best player in Europe by UEFA, four of the best players in the world by FIFPro, among many other brands.
Iberian bid for the 2030 World Cup
The football federations of Portugal and Spain came together to submit a joint application for the organization of the 2030 World Cup. The presidents of the respective federations recently met in Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, to perfect the proposal that will be submitted to FIFA. It will be the sole European candidate to lead the competition, after the UK withdrew to focus with Ireland on hosting Euro 2028. The Iberian candidacy will face competition from at least four South American countries, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, who have already formalized their joint candidacy to host the competition, which will have the support already adopted by their respective governments. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on a recent visit to Portugal practically assured that Portugal and Spain will host the 2030 World Cup and pledged to provide all necessary assistance to the Iberian bid. Portugal and Spain have organized major competitions individually. In 1982, Spain hosted the World Cup, Portugal hosted the European Championship in 2004 and the League of Nations in 2019.
Source: DN
