List of Portuguese football records in other countries

In the past, only few Portuguese players were in other countries. But, in the last two decades, this story started to change, and now numerous Portuguese footballers have spread around the world's top leagues, leaving the Portuguese mark in foreign football. In the present, famous players such as Luís Figo (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Internazionale), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid), Rui Costa (Fiorentina, Milan), Deco (Barcelona, Chelsea), and Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) have had significant impact on their respective clubs.

Goalscorers

Domestic leagues

  • Most goals in a domestic league

European top leagues only. Players in bold are still active.

Name

Years

Country

League

Club(s)

Goals

1

Pedro Pauleta

2000–2008

France

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain, Bordeaux

141

2

Cristiano Ronaldo

2003–2009

England

Premier League

Manchester United

84

3

Luís Figo

1995–2005

Spain

La Liga

Barcelona, Real Madrid

68

4

Rui Costa

1994–2006

Italy

Serie A

Fiorentina, AC Milan

42

5

Paulo Futre

1987–1993

Spain

La Liga

Atlético Madrid

38
  • Most goals in a season in a domestic league

European top leagues only. Players in bold are still active.

Name

Season

Country

League

Club(s)

Goals

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

2007–08

England

Premier League

Manchester United

|31

2

Jorge Cadete

1996–97

Scotland

Premier League

Celtic

25

3

Pedro Pauleta

2002-03

France

Ligue 1

Bordeaux

23

4

Pedro Pauleta

2001-02

France

Ligue 1

Bordeaux

22

5

Pedro Pauleta

2005-06

France

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain

21
  • Most goals in a domestic league for a single club

European top leagues only. Players in bold are still active.

Name

Years

Country

League

Club

Goals

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

2003–2009

England

Premier League

Manchester United

84

2

Pedro Pauleta

2003-2008

France

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain

76

3

Pedro Pauleta

2000-2003

France

Ligue 1

Bordeaux

65

4

Luís Figo

2000–2005

Spain

La Liga

Real Madrid

38

4

Paulo Futre

1987–1993

Spain

La Liga

Atlético Madrid

38
  • Top scorer titles in a domestic league

European top leagues only.

The following players have won the top scorer title whilst playing in other European countries:

Name

Country

League

Club(s)

Titles

Pedro Pauleta

France

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain, Bordeaux

3 (2001–02 - 22 goals, 2005–06 - 21 goals, 2006–07 - 15 goals)

Cristiano Ronaldo

England

Premier League

Manchester United

1 (2007–08 - 31 goals)

Jorge Cadete

Scotland

Premier League

Celtic

1 (1996–97 - 25 goals)

All competitions

  • Most goals for a single club in all competitions

Competitive, professional matches only. European top leagues only. Players in bold are still active.

Name

Years

League

Club

League

Cup

League Cup

Europe

Total

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

2003–2009

Premier League

Manchester United

84

13

4

16

117

2

Pedro Pauleta

2003–2008

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain

76

16

10

7

109

3

Pedro Pauleta

2000–2003

Ligue 1

Bordeaux

65

12

5

9

91

4

Luís Figo

2000–2005

La Liga

Real Madrid

38

4

-

15

57

5

Hugo Almeida

2006–Present

Bundesliga

Werder Bremen

30

6

-

13

49
  • Most goals in a season in all competitions

Competitive, professional matches only. European top leagues only.

Name

Season

League

Club

League

Cup

League Cup

Europe

Total

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

2007–08

Premier League

Manchester United

31

3

0

8

42

2

Pedro Pauleta

2001–02

Ligue 1

Bordeaux

22

4

4

5

35

3

Jorge Cadete

1996–97

Premier League

Celtic

25

2

5

1

33

4

Pedro Pauleta

2002–03

Ligue 1

Bordeaux

23

5

1

1

30

5

Pedro Pauleta

2005–06

Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain

21

5

2

-

28

Highest transfer fees

Transfers only between a Portuguese club and a foreign club or only between foreign clubs.

Name

From

To

Fee (€)1

Fee (£)1

Date

Transfer Window

Reference(s)

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United

Real Madrid

94 Million

86 Million

September 2009

Summer

2

Luís Figo

Barcelona

Real Madrid

40 Million

37 Million

July 2000

Summer

3

Rui Costa

Fiorentina

Milan

36.6 Million

33 Million

July 2001

Summer

4

Danny

Dynamo Moscow

Zenit Saint Petersburg

30 Million

27 Million

August 2008

Summer

Pepe

Porto

Real Madrid

30 Million

27 Million

July 2007

Summer

6

Ricardo Carvalho

Porto

Chelsea

22 Million

19.9 Million

July 2004

Summer

7

Simão Sabrosa

Benfica

Atlético Madrid

20 Million

18 Million

July 2007

Summer

8

Nani

Sporting

Manchester United

19 Million

17 Million

July 2007

Summer

9

Ricardo Quaresma

Porto

Internazionale

18.6 Million

16.9 Million

September 2008

Summer

10

José Bosingwa

Porto

Chelsea

18 Million

16.2 Million

July 2008

Summer

1Approximate Values.

Honours

Team honours (titles)

Titles earned in foreign teams only.

  • Most domestic league titles with a club: Luís Figo (Internazionale) - 4 titles.
  • Most domestic league titles: Luís Figo (Barcelona / Real Madrid / Internazionale) - 8 titles.
  • Most titles with a club: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 9 titles.
  • Most UEFA Champions League titles: Paulo Sousa (Juventus / Borussia Dortmund) - 2 titles.

Individual honours

Awards earned in foreign teams only.

FIFA World Player of the Year

Player

First place

Second place

Third place

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

1 (2008)

1 (2009)

1 (2007)

2

Luís Figo

1 (2001)

1 (2000)

0

Ballon d'Or

Player

First place

Second place

Third place

1

Cristiano Ronaldo

1 (2008)

2 (2007, 2009)

0

2

Luís Figo

1 (2000)

0

0

3

Paulo Futre

0

1 (1987)

0

Deco

0

1 (2004)

0