Portugal national under-21 football team
National association football team
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The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). They are nicknamed "Esperanças". Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future.
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| Nickname | Esperanças (Hopes) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Federação Portuguesa de Futebol | ||
| Head coach | Luis Freire | ||
| Captain | Mateus Fernandes | ||
| Most caps | Manuel Fernandes (30) | ||
| Top scorer | Hugo Almeida (16) | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 Portugal 3–1 South Africa  (Lisbon, Portugal; 16 November 1958) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Portugal 11–0 Liechtenstein  (Vizela, Portugal; 7 October 2021)  Gibraltar 0–11 Portugal (Gibraltar; 14 October 2025) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Italy 6–0 Portugal Piacenza, Italy; 2 December 1987 Records for competitive matches only. | |||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
| Appearances | 11 (first in 1994) | ||
| Best result | Runners-up (1994, 2015, 2021) | ||
Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Portuguese under-21 team was formed. Until 1994, the team had a rather poor record, failing to qualify for each of the first eight UEFA under-21 Championships. Since 1994, the team has improved its record greatly, qualifying for five of the next seven tournaments, including the 2006 finals.
Having qualified for the 2006 tournament finals, UEFA announced that Portugal would host the finals in May and June. From 2007 onwards, host nations will be announced before the qualification stage and will not need to qualify.
Competitive record
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
| Year | Round | Position | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | did not qualify | |||||||
| 1980 | ||||||||
| 1982 | did not enter | |||||||
| 1984 | did not qualify | |||||||
| 1986 | ||||||||
| 1988 | ||||||||
| 1990 | ||||||||
| 1992 | ||||||||
 1994 |
Runners-up | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
 1996 |
Quarter-finals | 7th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 1998 |
did not qualify | |||||||
 2000 | ||||||||
 2002 |
Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
 2004 |
Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| 2006 |
Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
 2007 |
Group stage | 6th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
 2009 |
did not qualify | |||||||
 2011 | ||||||||
 2013 | ||||||||
 2015 |
Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
 2017 |
Group stage | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | |
| 2019 |
did not qualify | |||||||
  2021 |
Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 |
 2023 |
Quarter-finals | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2025 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | |
  2027 | ||||||||
| Total | Runners-up | 11/25 | 43 | 21 | 9 | 13 | 65 | 40 |
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
- **Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won.
- ***Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Player records
Top appearances
- As of 21 June 2025[1]
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henrique Araújo | Benfica, Watford, Famalicão, Arouca | 2021–2025 | 32 |
| Paulo Bernardo | Benfica, Paços Ferreira, Celtic | |||
| 3 | Manuel Fernandes | Benfica, Portsmouth, Everton, Valencia | 2004–2008 | 30 |
| 4 | Ricardo Quaresma | Sporting CP, Barcelona, Porto | 2002–2006 | 28 |
| Silvestre Varela | Sporting CP, Casa Pia, Vitória Setúbal | 2004–2007 | ||
| João Pereira | Benfica, Gil Vicente, Braga | 2004–2008 | ||
| Fábio Silva | Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Las Palmas | 2021–2025 | ||
| 8 | Fernando Brassard | Marítimo, Gil Vicente, Vitória Guimarães | 1991–1994 | 27 |
| Hugo Almeida | Porto, União Leiria, Boavista, Werder Bremen | 2002–2007 | ||
| 10 | Ednilson | Roma, Benfica | 2000–2003 | 26 |
| Raul Meireles | Aves, Boavista, Porto | 2003–2006 |
Note: Club(s) represents the clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
Top goalscorers
- As of 21 June 2025[1]
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hugo Almeida | Porto, União Leiria, Boavista, Werder Bremen | 2002–2007 | 16 |
| 2 | Fábio Silva | Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Las Palmas | 2021–2025 | 15 |
| 3 | Gonçalo Ramos | Benfica | 2020–2022 | 14 |
| Fábio Vieira | Porto, Arsenal | 2019–2023 | ||
| 5 | Henrique Araújo | Benfica, Watford, Famalicão, Arouca | 2021–2025 | 13 |
| 6 | Toni | Porto, Braga | 1992–1994 | 12 |
| Hélder Postiga | Porto, Tottenham | 2001–2003 | ||
| 8 | Paulo Bernardo | Benfica, Paços Ferreira, Celtic | 2021–2025 | 11 |
| 9 | Diogo Gonçalves | Benfica, Nottingham Forest | 2017–2018 | 8 |
| Paulo Costa | Alverca, Inter Milan, Reggina, Porto | 2000–2002 | ||
| Simão Sabrosa | Sporting CP, Barcelona | 1998–2001 | ||
| Diogo Jota | Paços Ferreira, Atlético Madrid, Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2015–2018 | ||
| Rui Fonte | Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Sporting CP, Vitória Setúbal, Espanyol | 2008–2012 |
Note: Club(s) represents the clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
Players
Current squad
Players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were called up for the exhibition game against Northern Ireland on 3 June 2026.[2][3][4]
Caps and goals correct as of 3 June 2026, after the match against Northern Ireland.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Diogo Ferreira | 10 February 2007 | 1 | 0 | Benfica |
| 12 | GK | João Carvalho | 9 April 2004 | 13 | 0 | Braga |
| 22 | GK | Gonçalo Ribeiro | 15 January 2006 | 1 | 0 | Porto |
| 2 | DF | Daniel Banjaqui | 24 March 2008 | 3 | 1 | Benfica |
| 3 | DF | Diogo Monteiro | 28 January 2005 | 1 | 0 | Arouca |
| 4 | DF | Tiago Gabriel | 26 December 2004 | 7 | 0 | Lecce |
| 6 | DF | Gabriel Brás (Captain) | 25 March 2004 | 6 | 2 | Porto |
| 13 | DF | Diogo Travassos | 31 March 2004 | 6 | 2 | Moreirense |
| 15 | DF | Rodrigo Rêgo | 3 January 2005 | 2 | 0 | Benfica |
| 19 | DF | João Costa | 28 March 2005 | 1 | 0 |  Al-Ettifaq |
| 21 | DF | Tiago Parente | 14 January 2004 | 7 | 2 | Felgueiras |
| 5 | MF | Eduardo Felicíssimo | 8 January 2007 | 1 | 0 | Sporting CP |
| 8 | MF | Mateus Fernandes (Captain) | 10 July 2004 | 21 | 4 |  West Ham United |
| 14 | MF | Mathias De Amorim | 10 December 2004 | 9 | 0 | Famalicão |
| 16 | MF | Gonçalo Moreira | 3 January 2006 | 3 | 2 | Benfica |
| 20 | MF | Gustavo Sá (Vice-captain) | 11 November 2004 | 15 | 2 | Famalicão |
| 23 | MF | Diogo Sousa | 20 January 2006 | 2 | 0 | Vitória Guimarães |
| 7 | FW | Geovany Quenda | 30 April 2007 | 13 | 7 | Chelsea |
| 9 | FW | Youssef Chermiti | 24 May 2004 | 8 | 3 |  Rangers |
| 11 | FW | Carlos Forbs | 19 March 2004 | 21 | 5 |  Club Brugge |
| 17 | FW | Afonso Moreira | 19 March 2005 | 3 | 0 | Lyon |
| 18 | FW | Noah Saviolo | 7 March 2004 | 2 | 0 | Vitória Guimarães |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Portugal squad within the last twelve months and remain eligible to be called up.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | João Afonso | 30 April 2007 | 0 | 0 | Santa Clara |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| GK | André Gomes | 20 October 2004 | 1 | 0 | Alverca |
v. Czech Republic, 18 November 2025 INJ |
| GK | Diogo Fernandes | 17 February 2005 | 0 | 0 | Porto |
v. Gibraltar, 14 October 2025 |
| GK | Diogo Pinto | 18 June 2004 | 2 | 0 | Estrela da Amadora |
v. Scotland, 9 September 2025 |
| DF | João Muniz | 26 June 2005 | 9 | 0 | Sporting CP |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| DF | Leonardo Barroso | 12 June 2005 | 2 | 1 |  Chicago Fire |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| DF | Gonçalo Oliveira | 4 July 2006 | 3 | 0 | Benfica |
v. Czech Republic, 18 November 2025 |
| DF | Francisco Chissumba | 29 May 2005 | 4 | 0 | Braga |
v. Czech Republic, 18 November 2025 |
| DF | Martim Fernandes | 18 January 2006 | 2 | 0 | Porto |
v. Czech Republic, 18 November 2025 |
| DF | José Sampaio | 4 January 2005 | 1 | 0 | Vizela |
v. Scotland, 9 September 2025 |
| DF | Lourenço Henriques | 11 March 2004 | 0 | 0 | Leixões |
2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship |
| MF | Rodrigo Mora | 5 May 2007 | 6 | 4 | Porto |
v.  Northern Ireland, 3 June 2026 |
| MF | João Simões | 6 January 2007 | 4 | 1 | Sporting CP |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| MF | Diego Rodrigues | 24 May 2005 | 4 | 0 | Braga |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| MF | Miguel Nogueira | 27 February 2005 | 0 | 0 | Vitória Guimarães |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| MF | João Rêgo | 20 June 2005 | 1 | 0 | Benfica |
v. Czech Republic, 18 November 2025 |
| MF | Rafael Luís | 18 February 2005 | 1 | 0 | Strasbourg |
v. Gibraltar, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | João Veloso | 26 June 2005 | 0 | 0 | Benfica |
v. Scotland, 9 September 2025 |
| MF | Dário Essugo | 14 March 2005 | 8 | 0 | Chelsea |
v.  Azerbaijan, 5 September 2025 INJ |
| FW | Roger Fernandes | 21 November 2005 | 9 | 2 | Al-Ittihad |
v. Northern Ireland, 3 June 2026 |
| FW | Mateus Mané | 16 September 2007 | 2 | 0 | Wolverhampton |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| FW | Rodrigo Ribeiro | 28 April 2005 | 2 | 0 | FC Augsburg |
v. Scotland, 31 March 2026 |
| FW | Gustavo Varela | 30 January 2005 | 5 | 3 | Gil Vicente |
v. Czech Republic, 18 November 2025 |
| FW | Fabio Baldé | 20 July 2005 | 2 | 1 | Hamburger SV |
v. Czech Republic, 18 November 2025 |
| FW | Vivaldo Semedo | 28 January 2005 | 2 | 1 | Watford |
v.  Bulgaria, 10 October 2025 INJ |
SEN Player withdrew from the squad due to a call-up to the senior squad.
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Head coaches
- As of 14 November 2017[5]
| Manager | Period | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||
| José Alberto Costa |
–1993 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 10 | +12 | 66.67 |
| Nelo Vingada |
1994–1996 | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 14 | +19 | 63.64 |
| Jesualdo Ferreira |
1996–2000 | 33 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 64 | 36 | +28 | 57.58 |
| Agostinho Oliveira |
2000–2002 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 39 | 21 | +18 | 50.00 |
| Rui Caçador |
2002 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 66.67 |
| José Romão |
2002–2004 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 66.67 |
| Rui Caçador |
2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0.00 |
| Agostinho Oliveira |
2004–2006 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 9 | +27 | 77.78 |
| José Couceiro |
2006–2007 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 53.85 |
| Rui Caçador |
2007–2009 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 54 | 22 | +32 | 55.56 |
| Oceano Cruz |
2009–2010 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 50.00 |
| Rui Jorge |
2010–2025 | 127 | 90 | 19 | 18 | 352 | 105 | +247 | 70.87 |
| Luis Freire |
2025–Present | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | — |
Source: [5]