FC Porto legends: Top 10 all-time greats for the Dragons

FC Porto legends: Top 10 all-time greats for the Dragons

Babu Tendu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:10 PM

Since its foundation in 1893, the Portuguese club, FC Porto, has been one of the best teams in the Primeira Liga. The Dragons have played host to some of the biggest names in world football. Despite Sporting Lisbon and Benfica CF competition, the club has achieved a lot. Some of the biggest FC Porto legends were also very influential for their national teams.

Famous FC Porto legends
Get to know the best FC Porto legends in their books. Photo by canva.com. (Modified by author).
Source: Original

Under the influence of super management from coaches like Jose Mourinho, the football club has given birth to big names in the game and is continuing to produce. This post will pay attention to those influential figures.

Who are the best FC Porto legends?

Regarding many publications on the internet, it is clear that many players had successful careers at the Portuguese team, and this article will give a list of the ten best FC Porto legends.

10. Vitor Baia

His career was intrinsically intertwined with the club, which he began representing professionally while still in his teens, eventually helping it win 27 championships and remaining with the club as an ambassador.

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FC Porto legends on FIFA 22
Vitor Baia of Porto gives an interview before the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg between Chelsea FC and FC Porto on April 13, 2021, in Seville, Spain. Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez.
Source: Getty Images

In early 1989, he declined to partake in the FIFA World Youth Championship because he had demoted Pole Jozef Mlynarczyk to the bench. His team was still vying for the Primeira Liga championship, which they finally lost (second place).

Baia made his first-team debut against Vitoria de Guimaraes. He never lost his starting spot for the next seven seasons, winning five leagues and two domestic cups while surrendering only 116 goals. He is one of the most famous FC Porto legends.

9. Jorge Costa

Except for a few seasons, in the end, Jorge Costa spent his whole career with Porto, serving as captain for a few seasons. With them, he won the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the Champions League in 2004. He was also a member of Standard Liège.

FC Porto's legendary defenders
Head coach Jorge Costa of SC Farense reacts during the Liga NOS match between FC Porto and SC Farense at Estadio do Dragao on May 10, 2021, in Porto, Portugal. Photo by Octavio Passos.
Source: Getty Images

On the international stage, he was a member of the Golden Generation, which won the U-20 World Cup in 1991. He played for Portugal in Euro 2000 and the World Cup in 2002. He is one of the FC Porto football legends.

8. Ricardo Quaresma

Ricardo Quaresma began his career with Sporting CP before moving to Barcelona in 2003 as a highly rated winger. After three years with Porto, he moved on to Inter Milan and then Besiktas. He is frequently portrayed as a player who is unable to maximize his abilities.

He did, however, have a fantastic Euro 2016, when Portugal won its first major prize. He scored the lone goal against Croatia in the round of 16 and the game-winning penalty kick against Poland in the quarterfinals. He is one of the best FC Porto legends.

7. Pepe

In 2004, he moved to Porto while he established himself as one of the best defenders in Portugal. In 2007, he earned a dream move to Real Madrid. At the time of writing, he won two Champions' leagues with them.

Although born in Brazil, he chose to represent Portugal. At Euro 2016, he emerged as one of Portugal's best players as Portugal won their first-ever international trophy. He earned the Man of the Match in the Final against France. He is one of the FC Porto legends on FIFA 22.

6. Joao Pinto

He was a fantastic fullback for Porto. He spent his whole professional career at Porto, where he won nine league titles and the European Cup in 1987. He appeared in 70 games for Portugal. He competed in the 1986 World Cup Finals as well as the 1984 European Championship. He is one of FC Porto's legendary defenders.

FC Porto legendary players
FPF director Joao Vieira Pinto (L) poses on arrival at 'Quinas de Ouro' 2018 ceremony held and the Pavilhao Carlos Lopes in Lisbon, on March 19, 2018. Photo by Bruno Barros.
Source: Getty Images

One of the Porto best players ever, forever an acknowledged starter, Pinto retired after the 1996–97 season after 16 years as a professional, helping the northerners to their first three-leagues-in-a-row honour (18 trophies). He was one of the best FC Porto talents during his time.

5. Mario Jardel

Mario Jardel was one of Europe's most productive attackers during his time. In 274 games, he scored 266 goals. For two years, he was the European Golden Boot winner. He was a member of teams in Brazil, England, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Argentina, and Australia.

FC Porto legends of all time
Mario Jardel, Brazilian former football player, during a charity football game organised by Marius Niculae, former Romanian player, in Bucharest, Romania, 22 June 2019. Photo by Alex Nicodim.
Source: Getty Images

His most productive years were spent at Porto, Galatasaray, and Sporting CP. Due to playing alongside a golden generation of good strikers, his national team career was cut short. He only appeared in 10 games for Brazil, scoring one goal. In 2001, he competed in Copa America.

4. Teofilo Cubillas

He was well-known for his shooting skill, free-kick ability, and technique. He was regarded as one of the top players in the 1970s and the best in his decade, trailing only the Dutch Johan Cruyff. He is one of FC Porto's legendary players.

Biggest FC Porto legends
Peruvian football legend Teofilo Cubillas, 65, talks with AFP in Lima on May 27, 2014, about the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. Photo by Cris Bouroncle.
Source: Getty Images

Among his many achievements are FIFA awards for the best young player and bronze boot in Mexico in 1970 and silver boot and member of Argentina's ideal squad in 1978. He was also the champion and best player in the 1975 Copa America.

3. Deco

He was born in Brazil and played for several clubs in both Brazil and Portugal before joining Porto in 1999. He was the star of Porto's Champions League triumph in 2003-2004, and then another with Barcelona FC in 2005-2006. Deco chose to represent Portugal on a global scale.

Between 2003 and 2010, he earned 75 caps for Portugal. He is one of the very best ex-Porto players. Deco was the first player to win the UEFA Best Midfielder Award while playing for two different clubs, Porto and Barcelona.

2. Rabah Madjer

He rose to notoriety as a Porto player in the 1980s and is widely recognized as one of the greatest Algerian footballers of all time. During his six-year tenure with the club, he won nine major honours, including three national championships and the 1987 European Cup.

Best FC Porto legends
Algerian former footballer Rabah Madjer during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. Photo by Marcio Machado.
Source: Getty Images

After retiring, he immediately began coaching, managing many teams and spending time with the Algerian national team. He is arguably the most influential of the Dragon legends.

1. Fernando Gomes

Fernando Gomes was largely regarded as one of Porto's best players. After a 20-year drought, he helped Porto reclaim the league title in 1978-79. He also won the 1984 Cup Winners' Cup.

FC Porto football legends
Fernando Gomes, President of the Portuguese Football Federation, arrives at the stadium before the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 match on July 09, 2022, in Leigh, England. Photo by Charlotte Tattersall.
Source: Getty Images

He was injured in 1987 and did not play in the 1987 European Cup Final, but he was a significant player throughout the competition. He represented Portugal in the 1986 World Cup and the 1984 European Championship. As a result, he is arguably the best of FC Porto legends of all time.

The FC Porto legends are the players who gave their all for the Portuguese football team. They gave the club the remarkable status that it has today. This list includes the likes of Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Joao Pinto.

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