These are exciting times for Portuguese football. A brilliant generation of players are on the cusp of breaking into the national team, with the likes of William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Danilo and André Gomes all expected to play a big part in the Seleção in the near future, very possibly as soon as at Euro 2016.  

A few years younger, two more outstanding talents are making a big name for themselves. Porto’s Rúben Neves was yesterday called into the full Portugal squad to replace the injured João Moutinho. And Benfica’s Gonçalo Guedes has also been hitting the headlines all season. Both precocious talents are just eighteen years of age. The last time an 18-year-old was called up to the full Portugal squad he went by the name of… Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portuguese website Maisfutebol yesterday published an article looking at the back story of Guedes, Benfica’s man of the moment. Read an abridged and translated version of Sérgio Pereira’s revealing article.

Porto loanee excelling in new left-back role

In a matter of weeks, Ricardo Pereira has gone from forgotten man at FC Porto to being one of Ligue 1’s biggest early season revelations. A loan move to Nice, combined with a change in position has reignited his career.

So far this season, the 22-year-old left-back has made L'Équipe’s Team of the Week twice, and most recently was handed his first senior international call-up for Portugal. From winger/striker, to right-back to left-back, PortuGOAL looks at Ricardo’s journey to stardom.

As the Seleção prepare to take on Sweden in the final of the U21 European Championship in Prague tonight, Will Stratmann takes a closer look at the name on everybody’s lips, Bernardo Silva.

This article was first published on the excellent Licence to Roam website, coincidentally a title that perfectly fits the mandate given by coach Rui Jorge to Portugal’s star man.

Marcos Lopes is steadily building on his promise as one of the most exciting young talents to come along in quite some time. Lopes first made headlines when he scored on his senior debut for Manchester City in an FA Cup match against Watford just over two years ago.

Since then, he has continued to add to his burgeoning reputation. Last summer, Lopes played a leading role in helping Portugal to the final at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Hungary, where they lost to Germany. Currently on loan at French club Lille, he has taken his game to another level since returning from injury in January. PortuGoal takes a closer look at 'Rony' Lopes.