Portuguese Football Players Nicknames Quiz

Answer: Eusebio

Eusebio was not exactly a Portuguese-born player, as he was born in Mozambique (which was a Portuguese colony at the time). It is also a common mistake to think that he won two European Champions Cups in a row. Although Benfica won the trophy in 1961 and 1962, Eusebio didn't take part in the 1961 campaign.

Answer: Travassos

Jose Travassos got his nickname due to the fact that he was the first Portuguese player to be selected for an European all-star team, back in 1955.

Answer: Jorge Costa

Jorge Costa, a product of FC Porto's youth system, was the natural heir of the legendary fullback Joao Pinto, as the undisputed leader of the team and main symbol of the club. He captained the amazing "Mourinho's Porto" that won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in consecutive seasons (and also the Intercontinental Cup the year after). "O Bicho" was also in the Portuguese national team that won the U20 World Cup in 1991. Concerning the senior level, his peak was the Euro 2000 campaign, where Portugal reached the semis (knocked out by a dramatic golden goal by Zidane), and he was considered one of the best center defenders of the tournament, alongside team mate Fernando Couto.

Answer: Joao Vieira Pinto

Did you know that Joao Manuel Vieira Pinto was for a long time the only player in history to win two U20 World Cup finals (1989 and 1991)? His lone reign ended in 2007, when Sergio "Kun" Aguero won his second consecutive title with Argentina. He was one of the main stars of the Portuguese golden generation that won those two titles (alonside Figo, Rui Costa, Paulo Sousa, Vitor Baia and Fernando Couto).

He was the only one of the mentioned that always refused to play abroad during the best years of his career, due to a previous failed and traumatic experience in Atletico Madrid, when he was only a teenager. One of the most brilliant players the country has ever produced (who can forget his 3 goals plus 2 assists in a 3-6 Benfica win over Sporting Lisbon in 1994, or his incredible goal against England in Euro 2000, and voted the best header in the tournament's history?). JVP will also sadly be remembered for his bad temper on the pitch, especially his assault on the ref in World Cup 2002, which earned him a 6 month ban.

Answer: Ricardo Quaresma

Ricardo Andrade Quaresma Bernardo seemed destined to be a star, ever since he was a youngster. He came as a sub in the U16 European Cup final in 2000 against Czech Republic, and scored two goals in a 2-1 win. Laszlo Boloni, former Romanian national coach, watched that match and later stated that two players had caught his eye: Quaresma and Hugo Viana, two Sporting Lisbon youth players.

After signing for that club, Boloni promoted the two prodigies to the senior squad, and both of them would play an important part in the team's double in 2002.

In the book, Boloni wrote about that incredible year, he revealed that Quaresma was like a wild Mustang: an amazing force of nature, that he was striving to domesticate. At the end of 2003, Quaresma signed for Spanish giants FC Barcelona, and chairman Joan Laporta introduced him as "Harry Potter".

He arrived at the same time Ronaldinho did, and the expectations about what these two football wizards could do together was tremendous. Nevertheless, like Simao Sabrosa before him, Quaresma failed, clashing with manager Frank Rijkaard and being forced to return to Portugal, this time for FC Porto.

He would win 3 national championships in 4 years, before heading for a new adventure abroad in 2008, this time in Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

Answer: The Pitbull

There is a curious and somehow funny story about how Petit really got that nickname. It is said that when Luis Figo first met Petit in the national squad, he was intrigued about him, because he didn't know who he was at the time. He approached national coach Antonio Oliveira, and asked "mister, who is this Petit guy?". Oliveira amusingly replied: "You don't know who he is? Ha! Wait until you see him chasing the ball.

He looks like a pitbull!". Petit played an important part in Boavista's historical championship title in 2001, and was also a member of Benfica's squad that ended the 10 year lack of titles for the club in 2005.

He ended up signing for German side FC Koln, in the summer of 2008.

Answer: The Maestro

It's hard to find a player that shows so much love and passion for a club like Rui Costa for Benfica. He grew up as a player in the club's youth system (winning the U20 World Cup in 1991 along the way). After spending one year on loan in a lower division team called Fafe in his first year as a senior, Rui Costa soon settled himself in the first team of Benfica, under the management of Sven Goran Eriksson.

He helped the team win the championship title later in 1994, during the worst finantial crysis in the club's history.

It was the club's situation that made Rui Costa accept Fiorentina's offer at the end of the season, declining a more seductive (but less expensive) transfer to Barcelona. The most touching moment of Rui's story of love for the club came months later, when Fiorentina played a friendly match at Estadio da Luz, and he scored against his former club.

Not only didn't he celebrate the goal, but also cried like a baby, under the comfort of teammates and opponents, and of an enormous round of applause from the fans. Rui Costa eventually came back to play two more seasons for Benfica in 2006, before ending his playing career and assuming a position in the club's staff.

Answer: The Little Genius

Despite being left-footed, Chalana used to play as a right winger, and he really could do the trick. After Euro 84, Chalana got a contract with Bordeaux from France, but never had the same success as in Portugal, where he came back in 1988 to play once again for the Estadio da Luz side.

Answer: Pedro Pauleta

It's hard to believe that a prolific striker like Pedro Pauleta never actually played in the top division of his own country, but it's true. After building his name in second division, Pauleta accompanied coach Joao Alves in his adventure in Spanish second league team Salamanca, where his goals helped the team being promoted to La Liga. From there, Pauleta moved to Deportivo La Coruna in 1998, taking part in the club's only championship title until then, in 2000.

But it was in France where Pauleta really became a star, after joining Bordeaux that year and PSG some years later, eventually taking honors as the best player in the league.

He ended his career in 2008.

Answer: Rui Bento

Rui Bento became a crutial and respected player in Boavista, and played a very important part in the club's glorious campaign in 2001. The next year he signed for Sporting Lisbon on a free transfer ,and once again ended up a league champion, playing alongside another Bento (Paulo) as the team's two defensive midfielders that supported the likes of Jardel, Joao Pinto, Niculae, Hugo Viana or Quaresma. Rui Bento later became a coach, signing for "his" Boavista in 2008, after the club got relegated by the courts.