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Quiz about Portuguese Football Players Nicknames
Quiz about Portuguese Football Players Nicknames

Portuguese Football Players Nicknames Quiz


Although not as usual as in South American countries, some Portuguese players do get nicknames. Try to guess who's who. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by rolling-murray. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
298,591
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
367
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Question 1 of 10
1. Considered by many as the best Portuguese football player of all-time, this attacker scored 9 goals in World Cup 1966 held in England, which made him the tournament's top scorer and led the Portuguese team to third place in their first presence in a World Cup stage. He was known as "The Black Panther", but some of his fans call him "The King", comparing him to Pele himself! Who is he? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. He was a part of the unforgettable Sporting Lisbon's attacking line that ruled the Portuguese football during the 1950s (the infamous "Five Violins"), winning 8 championships and 2 Portuguese cups. He will always been known as "Ze da Europa" (something like "European Joe"). He died in February 2002. Who was this Portuguese legend? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This powerful and aggressive center defender will always be remembered as one of his club's greatest captains ever, taking part in almost every title won by that team during the 1990s and the first years of the new millennium. This was despite spending half a season in the Premiership after a conflict with his coach at the time. In England, his physique and style of play earned him the nickname "The Tank", whereas in Portugal he got be known as "O Bicho" (something like "The Beast"). Can you name him? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This highly talented creative forward got the credit of being a fans favorite in both of the country's most fierce rivals, where he was known as "The Golden Boy" during his 8 year stay at the first, and as "The Great Artist" in the other. That should be enough for you to guess his name! Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This flamboyant winger is probably the most nicknamed player in Portuguese football. In the initial stage of his career, his first coach called him "The Mustang". When arriving in Spain a couple of years later, his new chairman said he was just like "Harry Potter", due to the magical things he could do with the ball. His fans affectionately call him "The Little Gypsy", a result of his ethnicity. What's his name? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. One of Armando Teixeira's nicknames is also the name for which he is mostly known in football. Son of Portuguese immigrants in France, he was nicknamed "Petit" by his parents in his childhood, and remained with that name ever since. Nevertheless, his rather energetic style of play later earned him another nickname. Do you know it? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. One of the last rightful owners of the number 10 shirt in European football, Rui Costa is perhaps the greatest idol in Benfica's history after Eusebio, despite having played no more than five seasons with the club. Spending most of his time in Italy, he achieved world recognition for his talent with Fiorentina (alonside Gabriel Batistuta), and trophy glory with AC Milan. Being true that some people also call Rui Costa "The Prince", what is the nickname he is mostly known by? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Fernando Chalana was one of the greatest talents in Portugal before the so-called "golden generation", showing his amazing dribbling skills not only in Benfica, but also in the Portuguese national team, where he really shined during Euro 84 in France. His long, curly hair and large moustache also earned him the nickname "Chalanix" (after Asterix the Gaul), but he will always be better known as what? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Legendary Eusebio remained the best scorer in the history of the Portuguese national team for decades, just until a low-profile and often underrated striker known as "The Azor" scored against Latvia in 2005, and got the first place in the list for himself. Can you name him? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Another member of the "golden generation", winning the U20 World Cup in 1991, this disciplined team player first made his mark in Benfica's senior squad as a center defender, earning the nickname "Little Baresi" from coach Eriksson. He played most of his career as an anchor man. Being a good prospect didn't prove enough to stop his club from including him in a part-exchange deal, that brought Joao Vieira Pinto from Boavista to Benfica. He ended up winning the league not only in Boavista, but also in one of Benfica's rivals. His name is what? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Considered by many as the best Portuguese football player of all-time, this attacker scored 9 goals in World Cup 1966 held in England, which made him the tournament's top scorer and led the Portuguese team to third place in their first presence in a World Cup stage. He was known as "The Black Panther", but some of his fans call him "The King", comparing him to Pele himself! Who is he?

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.
2. He was a part of the unforgettable Sporting Lisbon's attacking line that ruled the Portuguese football during the 1950s (the infamous "Five Violins"), winning 8 championships and 2 Portuguese cups. He will always been known as "Ze da Europa" (something like "European Joe"). He died in February 2002. Who was this Portuguese legend?

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.
3. This powerful and aggressive center defender will always be remembered as one of his club's greatest captains ever, taking part in almost every title won by that team during the 1990s and the first years of the new millennium. This was despite spending half a season in the Premiership after a conflict with his coach at the time. In England, his physique and style of play earned him the nickname "The Tank", whereas in Portugal he got be known as "O Bicho" (something like "The Beast"). Can you name him?

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.
4. This highly talented creative forward got the credit of being a fans favorite in both of the country's most fierce rivals, where he was known as "The Golden Boy" during his 8 year stay at the first, and as "The Great Artist" in the other. That should be enough for you to guess his name!

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.
5. This flamboyant winger is probably the most nicknamed player in Portuguese football. In the initial stage of his career, his first coach called him "The Mustang". When arriving in Spain a couple of years later, his new chairman said he was just like "Harry Potter", due to the magical things he could do with the ball. His fans affectionately call him "The Little Gypsy", a result of his ethnicity. What's his name?

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.
6. One of Armando Teixeira's nicknames is also the name for which he is mostly known in football. Son of Portuguese immigrants in France, he was nicknamed "Petit" by his parents in his childhood, and remained with that name ever since. Nevertheless, his rather energetic style of play later earned him another nickname. Do you know it?

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.
7. One of the last rightful owners of the number 10 shirt in European football, Rui Costa is perhaps the greatest idol in Benfica's history after Eusebio, despite having played no more than five seasons with the club. Spending most of his time in Italy, he achieved world recognition for his talent with Fiorentina (alonside Gabriel Batistuta), and trophy glory with AC Milan. Being true that some people also call Rui Costa "The Prince", what is the nickname he is mostly known by?

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.
8. Fernando Chalana was one of the greatest talents in Portugal before the so-called "golden generation", showing his amazing dribbling skills not only in Benfica, but also in the Portuguese national team, where he really shined during Euro 84 in France. His long, curly hair and large moustache also earned him the nickname "Chalanix" (after Asterix the Gaul), but he will always be better known as what?

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.
9. Legendary Eusebio remained the best scorer in the history of the Portuguese national team for decades, just until a low-profile and often underrated striker known as "The Azor" scored against Latvia in 2005, and got the first place in the list for himself. Can you name him?

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.
10. Another member of the "golden generation", winning the U20 World Cup in 1991, this disciplined team player first made his mark in Benfica's senior squad as a center defender, earning the nickname "Little Baresi" from coach Eriksson. He played most of his career as an anchor man. Being a good prospect didn't prove enough to stop his club from including him in a part-exchange deal, that brought Joao Vieira Pinto from Boavista to Benfica. He ended up winning the league not only in Boavista, but also in one of Benfica's rivals. His name is what?

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.
Source: Author rolling-murray

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