Soccer
In Portugal, football is no joke! It's the undisputed number 1 sport. A Bola, the daily soccer newspaper, is as sacred as the sport it specializes in. In fact, it's the best-selling daily in the country, far ahead of the general newspapers. All you have to do is turn on the television to catch a match. And it's always a moment of reunion for the whole family or for groups of supporters, whether in the stadium stands or in bars all over the country.
Legendary players. Over the last few decades, Portugal has produced some of the most talented players in world soccer history. In 1961, the world discovered the first Portuguese legend: striker Eusébio. The "black panther", originally from Mozambique (a former Portuguese colony), soon became a Benfica Lisbon legend, scoring goals all over Europe. Held back by Salazar's authoritarian regime, the "king" went on to score a staggering 733 goals (including 41 in 64 games for the national team). Logically, he was to add to Benfica's trophy cabinet like no other, winning 11 championships. The first black player to lift the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 1965, he left an indelible mark on a country that declared three days of national mourning following his death in January 2014. A legend!
In the 1980s, it was Paulo Futre who thrilled the country with his brilliance with Porto. With the northern club, he won two championships (1985 and 1986) and, above all, the Champions League in 1987, before moving on to Atlético Madrid, where he left an indelible mark on the hearts of the fans. The same kind of memories will be left by the solid defender Fernando Couto, captain of the Seleção (the national team) at the dawn of the 2000s, with a list of honours as long as one's arm (including 2 European Cups, 3 Portuguese championships, 1 in Spain and 1 in Italy). At the same time, goalkeeper Vitor Baia (525 games for Porto) was shaking the world's best strikers with his gloves. He is one of the symbols of a golden generation, along with midfielder Rui Costa, the emblem of Benfica, who won the Champions League with AC Milan and finished2nd in Euro 2004 with Portugal. And how could we forget their strike partner, the great Luis Figo? Trained at Sporting Lisbon, he played for Barça and Real Madrid for 10 years before ending his career at Inter Milan. The elegant attacking midfielder left his mark on the history of the game, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2000 and the Champions League, as well as that of the national team, donning the Portuguese shirt no fewer than 127 times. A record that stood until the arrival of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo... For if, during the same period, PSG striker Pedro Miguel Pauleta (nicknamed the Azores Eagle) made his mark, what can be said of the legend CR7? Cristiano Ronaldo has left his mark on the 21stcentury , and his long-distance duel with Messi is the most memorable in soccer history. The figures are staggering. The native of Funchal (Madeira) has racked up no fewer than 5 Ballon d'Or awards, as many Champions Leagues, 7 championships in three different countries (England, Spain, Italy) and Euro 2016 with Portugal. A national team that he has left his mark on (196 caps by the end of 2022) and with each outing (118 goals, a record). A legend, especially in Madeira, where he has a museum, a hotel and... the airport to his name!
Sporting, Benfica or Porto? In the Portuguese capital, it's impossible not to choose! In Lisbon, you support Sporting or Benfica and show your colors. Red for Benfica and green for Sporting. On match nights, if the city's bars are packed and all the televisions are on, the best thing to do is head to Estádio da Luz to support the Benfica Eagles or to Alvalade to cheer on the Sporting Lions. Green and white be damned, Benfica is the city's most successful club. It's also the most popular club in the country, with socios all over the world. However, the Lisbon derby, also known as the eternal derby, always brings out the crowds between supporters of clubs just 3 km apart. While the rivalry is fierce on the pitch, fans also fight to celebrate the greatest player in history. Eusébio, the panther, played for Benfica, while Cristiano Ronaldo wore the Sporting shirt. Eusébio or CR7? Benfica or Sporting? You'd better make up your mind before you set foot on the banks of the Tagus.
In the north, on the banks of the Douro, you'll find the country's other great soccer institution: FC Porto, which completes the famous Os Três Grandes ("the big three"). A visit to the city is often synonymous with a visit to the lively Estádio do Dragão.
Soccer is more than just a game in Portugal, and when the stars aren't on the pitch, the game is the talk of the town, with children in village squares and teenagers on the country's beaches. Unless the waves are out and they're indulging in the country's other passion: surfing.
Surfing, bodyboarding and kitesurfing
Portugal is known all over the world for the quality of its spots and waves, so it has many enthusiasts and welcomes streams of tourists eager to get into the water. It must be said that between Lisbon and Porto, the coast offers many spots.
In the south of Lisbon, the riders often meet on the Lagoa de Albufeira towards Sesimbra. A spot where you can find experienced surfers but also beginners who can also enjoy themselves along the coast of Caparica, about 30 km from Lisbon. They especially put their boards in Carcavelos and Cascais. Fifteen minutes by train and in the water! And don't be afraid to take your surfboard by bus or train, everyone does it!
A little further north, the rocky coastline from Cascais to Guincho (10 km) is perfectly impassable for swimmers and is a rider's paradise. And the beach of Guincho, with its incredible panorama, is one of the most beautiful spots on the planet.
As you head north, the famous Peniche peninsula comes into view. The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal is a mythical event of the World Tour, the world championship of surfing (it is imperative to attend if you are in the area in mid-October), and Peniche attracts surfers from all over the world. Normal for a wave which is considered as one of the most beautiful in Europe, in particular on the well named spot of Supertubos. If the tubes are not offered to the first come, some beachbreaks will make the happiness of the beginners.
About sixty kilometers away, the riders are getting ready to challenge the legend, the wave of Praia Norte in Nazaré. A spot that went down in history. It is there that the German Sebastian Steudtner set the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed, for a breaker of 86 feet (26.2 meters), ridden on October 29, 2020 erasing from the shelves Rodrigo Koxa and his record for the highest wave (24.38 m) in November 2017 and before him Garrett Mc Namara and his performance on a wave surfed 23.77 m, also in Nazaré. At the beginning of 2023, the Brazilian surfer Marcio Freire, alias "Mad Dog", lover of big waves, unfortunately killed himself on this spot. Finally, the beaches north of Porto, in Viana do Castelo, are also frequented by surfers in search of adrenaline. These spots are also very popular with windsurfers. Because in Portugal, if surfing is king, we should not forget that the spots of the coast between Lisbon and Porto, and in Algarve between Sagres and Aljezur, are also very famous for windsurfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. To your boards!
Green tourism in full development
There's plenty to do on land too! With its grandiose landscapes, Portugal offers a wealth of possibilities for sports enthusiasts, particularly near the Spanish border in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, where hiking and climbing are a joy. For hiking enthusiasts, the regional parks and nature reserves also offer numerous marked hiking trails. The dense Fóia forest in the highlands of the Algarve is a great place for hiking. For some years now, local associations have been developing hiking trails through the region, such as the Via Algarviana and the Rota Vicentina.
Another popular activity is birdwatching. With some 430 bird species to observe, Portugal is one of Europe's top destinations for this activity. The most popular region is the Algarve. In just a few hours, you can discover a wide variety of landscapes and ecosystems, from coastal areas to forests, from beaches to farmland. Pink flamingo, blue magpie, griffon vulture, red swallow, red heron, ibis, sultana hen, Canary nightingale and peregrine falcon are just some of the species to be discovered. Many birds can also be seen in the Tagus estuary, near Lisbon, and in numerous nature reserves.
If you want to see more of the country, you can also climb on your bike. Cycling is well developed and there are excellent cycle paths, particularly in the Minho region in the north, where tours to interesting villages can be envisaged. The country's natural parks are ideal for mountain biking.
Horse-riding is available in many regions. Lusitano thoroughbreds (mostly grey) are world-renowned, and are among the oldest breeds ever ridden. Some equestrian centers offer demonstrations, as in the Vila Franca de Xíra region, near Lisbon.
Finally, aficionados of the little white ball will find some fine greens. Portugal is a well-known destination for golfers, particularly in the south of the country, where there are numerous competition courses (there are around twenty in the Algarve).
Among the best-known 18-hole courses are Estoril, Quinta de Marinha near Lisbon, Golden Eagle near Rio Maior, Ponte de Lima in the Minho region, Estela near Póvoa de Varzim, Tróia in the Alentejo, reputed to be the most difficult course in the country and, of course, the Royal Golf Course (Algarve), one of the most famous greens in the world.
