Portugal – still spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo – have a rich history in the European Championship, and are now one of the leading candidates to lift the trophy, having emerged as one of the continent’s standout nations in recent times.
In truth, such a status has not always been bestowed upon the country, even with glittering figures like Eusebio of the past, with it arguably having been the Ronaldo era that has brought out their best over the last 20 years or so.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid icon was at the epicentre of Portugal’s success at Euro 2016, but how does their overall record in the competition look? Here is a list of every European Championship campaign, with a detailed look at the tournaments they qualified for.
Year
Stage reached
1960
Failed to qualify
1964
Failed to qualify
1968
Failed to qualify
1972
Failed to qualify
1976
Failed to qualify
1980
Failed to qualify
1984
Semi-finals
1988
Failed to qualify
1992
Failed to qualify
1996
Quarter-finals
2000
Semi-finals
2004
Runners-up
2008
Quarter-finals
2012
Semi-finals
2016
Winners
2020
Round of 16
2024
Quarter-finals
Euro 1984 Portugal go close in first Euros adventure
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
West Germany
D 0-0
N/A
Group stage
Spain
W 1-0
Sousa
Group stage
Romania
W 1-0
Nene
Semi-final
France
L 2-3
Jordao (2) / Domergue (2), Platini
Aside from reaching the last four of the World Cup in England in 1966, Portugal had a relatively meagre record of qualifying for tournament football up until the 1980s, with Euro 1984 having been their first taste of the continental competition.
In an event which comprised just eight teams at the time, the debutants finished second in a group containing West Germany, Spain and Romania, drawing their opening two fixtures before securing a late 1-0 win over the latter side to seal progression.
That set up a semi-final showdown with hosts France at the Stade Velodrome, with a Michel Platini-inspired side eventually running out 3-2 winners after 120 minutes, following a thrilling extra-time that produced three goals. So close, yet so far…
Euro 1996 Poborsky magic denies Portugal semi-final spot
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
Denmark
D 1-1
Sa Pinto / B.Laudrup
Group stage
Turkey
W 1-0
Couto
Group stage
Croatia
W 3-0
Figo, Joao Pinto, Domingos
Quarter-final
Czech Republic
L 0-1
Poborsky
30 years on from losing to Sir Alf Ramsey’s eventual champions in ’66, Portugal returned to England in search of another lengthy tournament run, having missed out on the previous two European Championships after failing to qualify.
It all started so well in ’96, with Portugal going unbeaten in the group stage to finish top of the pile, drawing 1-1 with holders Denmark in the opening game, before defeating Turkey and Croatia without conceding a single goal.
Those early heroics set up a quarter-final clash with the Czech Republic for Luis Figo and co, yet it was all to end in heartbreak as Karel Poborsky’s delicious second-half lob sealed a 1-0 win for the eventual finalists.
Euro 2000 Portugal bow out in disgrace after heated semi-final clash
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
England
W 3-2
Figo, Joao Pinto, Nuno Gomes / Scholes, McManaman
Group stage
Romania
W 1-0
Costinha
Group stage
Germany
W 3-0
Conceicao (3)
Quarter-final
Turkey
W 2-0
Nuno Gomes (2)
Semi-final
France
L 1-2
Nuno Gomes / Henry, Zidane (p)
By the time Euro 2000 came around, Portugal were emerging as major players on the international scene, boasting a dazzling forward line that included the likes of Figo, Rui Costa and Nuno Gomes.
After sweeping a tough-looking group including both England and Germany – current Porto boss Sergio Conceicao scoring a hat-trick against the latter – the winning machine then saw off Turkey to reach the last four, where World champions France lay in wait.
Despite taking an early lead through the prolific Gomes, there was to be yet more semi-final heartbreak, with goals from Thierry Henry and a last-gasp Zinedine Zidane penalty in extra-time sending Les Bleus into the showpiece.
Cue a mass headloss from those of a Portuguese persuasion, with one-time Liverpool man Abel Xavier among a trio to be handed lengthy suspensions by UEFA for confronting the referee following the decisive spot-kick decision. Fiery.
Euro 2004 Hosts' fairytale run ends in Greek tragedy
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
Portugal
L 1-2
Ronaldo / Karagounis, Basinas
Group stage
Russia
W 2-0
Maniche, Rui Costa
Group stage
Spain
W 1-0
Nuno Gomes
Quarter-final
England
D 2-2 (6-5 on pens)
Postiga, Rui Costa / Owen, Lampard
Semi-final
Netherlands
W 2-1
Ronaldo, Maniche / Andrade (og)
Final
Greece
L 0-1
Charisteas
The stage looked set. On home soil – and bolstered by the emergence of a teenage Ronaldo – Portugal’s ‘Golden Generation’ appeared on course to end their long-awaited quest for a major trophy.
The hosts topped the group yet again courtesy of victories over Russia and neighbours Spain, albeit while having intriguingly slipped up in the opening game against an unfancied Greece side – a foreshadowing, perhaps?
Another tournament match-up with England at the quarter-final stage inevitably led to penalty-shootout heartbreak for the Three Lions, before a place in the showpiece was secured after seeing off the Netherlands in normal time.
Facing off against surprise package, Greece, there surely appeared to be only one winner, yet the footballing gods were in a cruel and wicked mood – Angelos Charisteas’ second-half header capping one of the most remarkable upsets of any era.
Euro 2008 Ronaldo fails to inspire amid early exit
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
Turkey
W 2-0
Pepe, Meireles
Group stage
Czech Republic
W 3-1
Sionko / Deco, Ronaldo, Quaresma
Group stage
Switzerland
L 2-0
Yakin (2)
Quarter-final
Germany
L 2-3
Nuno Gomes, Postiga / Schweinsteiger, Klose, Ballack
An emerging star in ’04, Ronaldo was very much at the front and centre of the side by the time Euro 2008 came around, with a nation’s hopes pinned on his relatively young shoulders.
Once again, Portugal came out on top in a competitive group, albeit with a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the final game indicating that it was perhaps not going to go all their own way this time around.
Unfortunately for ‘CR7’ and co, their hopes of avenging their disappointment of four years earlier came to an abrupt halt in the last eight, coming out second best in a 3-2 thriller with eventual runners-up, Germany.
Euro 2012 Ronaldo decision backfires amid shootout heartbreak
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
Germany
L 0-1
Gomez
Group stage
Denmark
W 3-2
Bendtner (2) / Pepe, Postiga, Varela
Group stage
Netherlands
W 2-1
Ronaldo (2) / Van der Vaart
Quarter-final
Czech Republic
W 1-0
Ronaldo
Semi-final
Spain
D 0-0 (2-4 on pens)
n/a
Euro 2012 certainly didn’t get off the best of starts for Ronaldo and co, with Portugal beginning the tournament how they ended the previous one four years earlier – losing to the Germans.
After overcoming a stubborn Denmark side – spearheaded by a certain Nicklas Bendtner, it was the final group game where they truly hit their groove, Ronaldo bagging a brace to see off Holland, before netting the only goal in the last four against the Czech Republic.
The subsequent tense encounter with reigning champions Spain – who were in search of a third major trophy in a row – went all the way to the dreaded penalty shoot-out following a cagey goalless draw.
Ronaldo stood waiting to take what he dreamed of being the ‘glory’ fifth penalty, only to see his side bow out before he could step up himself, with Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves failing to convert.
Euro 2016 Football finally comes home for Fernando Santos' plucky side
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
Iceland
D 1-1
Nani / Bjarnason
Group stage
Austria
D 0-0
N/A
Group stage
Hungary
D 3-3
Gera, Dzsudzsák (2) / Nani, Ronaldo (2)
Round of 16
Croatia
W 1-0
Quaresma
Quarter-final
Poland
D 1-1 (5-3 on pens)
Lewandowski / Sanches
Semi-final
Wales
W 2-0
Ronaldo, Nani
Final
France
W 1-0
Eder
At last, Euro 2016 saw Portugal right the wrongs of 2004, going one step further to clinch the trophy in Paris.
Under the watchful eye of manager Fernando Santos, it is fair to say that while still blessed with talent, the side was a far cry from the days of the ‘Golden Generation’, even with the mighty Ronaldo in tow.
After scraping through the group as one of the best third-place sides, it actually took until the semi-final stage for the eventual champions to win a game in normal time, having seen off Wales in the last four.
Facing host nation France in the final, disaster struck as Ronaldo was forced off with injury after 25 minutes, making an already sizeable task even tougher. With the skipper roaring his teammates on from the sidelines, however, up stepped unlikely hero, Eder to seal the win in extra-time. Euphoric.
Euro 2020 Holders sent for an early bath in Seville
Round
Opponent
Result
Goalscorers
Group stage
Hungary
W 3-0
Guerreiro, Ronaldo, Ronaldo (pen)
Group stage
Germany
L 2-4
Ronaldo, Jota / Dias (og), Guerreiro (og), Havertz, Gosens
Group stage
France
D 2-2
Ronaldo (pen x2) / Benzema (2, 1 pen)
Round of 16
Belgium
L 0-1
T. Hazard
Five years on from lifting the trophy, Portugal produced a relatively limp defensive of their crown in the belated tournament in 2021, having crashed out in the first knockout round.
The holders had been part of an undoubted ‘Group of Death’ that included both France and Germany, eventually progressing in third place with that man Ronaldo remarkably netting five times in those opening three games.
Any ambitions of retaining their title were swiftly extinguished in the last-16 following a 1-0 defeat to Belgium in Seville, Thorgan Hazard scoring the game’s solitary goal.
Euro 2024 Portugal survive penalty drama before France defeat
It was a tale of two shootouts for Portugal at Euro 2024, as after winning their group as expected, the relief of squeezing past Slovenia in the last 16 was quickly replaced by the despair of being sent home by France in the quarter-final.
Things had started well as a late comeback victory saw off the Czech Republic before some comical Turkey defending gave them a helping hand in their second group game.
With top spot secured, Portugal were able to afford a 2-0 defeat to Georgia, handing their opponents a first win at a major international tournament.
The round of 16 is where the drama really began. Despite Portugal’s perfect performance from the spot in the shootout – with Diogo Costa creating history by saving all three Slovenian spot-kicks – it was a penalty in extra time from Cristiano Ronaldo that made the headlines.
The Al-Nassr forward had the chance to all but win the game for Portugal, but he burst into tears after he was denied by Jan Oblak.
Ronaldo went on to redeem himself in the shootout, but Costa could not repeat his heroics when another goalless draw led to France scoring all their penalty kicks, with João Felix’s miss ultimately sending Portugal home.
