Fifty years after their debut appearance at a major tournament, Portugal finally got their first major international trophy when they lifted the 2016 European Championship in Paris last month.

That first piece of silverware was a long time coming, but the Seleção have been involved in a number of memorable matches over the decades. Below are the top five matches ever played by Portugal’s national football team.

Leicester City’s improbable Premier League title this season captivated the football world.

Portugal had its own version of a Cinderella story at the beginning of the 21st century with Porto-based club Boavista FC.

Known outside Portugal primarily for their chequered shirts, Os Axadrezados have been firmly in the shadow of city rivals FC Porto for much of their history.

But prior to the beginning of the 2000/01 season, there was a renewed sense of optimism surrounding the club.

After a highly satisfactory international break for Portuguese football, the focus turns again to the domestic game tomorrow night as lower-league Vianense host Benfica in the 3rd round of the Portuguese Cup. Other upsets are possibly on the cards, the FPF having introduced a new format this season whereby all top-flight clubs are drawn away at this stage of the competition (full draw here).

The perfect time, therefore, to revisit Ben Shave’s brilliant article charting five great upsets in the rich history of the Portuguese Cup.

Profile of Portugal’s first football legend

Long before the emergence of Portugal’s greatest ever footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Madeira had spawned another truly astonishing player. 

Beginning his career at Club Sport Marítimo, Artur de Sousa, known in the football world as Pinga, would play for the islanders for three seasons before crossing the Atlantic to ply his trade at northern powerhouse Futebol Clube do Porto.

Over 16 years at Porto, the adept forward and inside-left midfielder extraordinaire etched his name as the first legendary figure in Porto’s illustrious history.

Mitchell Rua profiles the driving force behind the famous “Three Noon Devils”.