
Portugal’s Golden Chance To End Their World Cup Pain
Portugal World Cup history, from Eusebio to Cristiano Ronaldo, shows a curse of over-reliance on stars. Is this stacked 2025 squad finally ready to win?
From the heartbreak of Lisbon in 2004 to the pure joy of Paris in 2016, Portugal have lived every extreme of international football. A nation of just over 10 million people has produced legends like Eusébio, Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, yet one trophy still escapes them. The World Cup continues to sit just out of reach.
A history built on one genius at a time
Portugal’s relationship with the biggest stages has often revolved around one talisman. In 1966 it was Eusébio. He dragged Portugal through qualifying and then lit up the World Cup in England, scoring …
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