The likes of Eusebio, Luis Figo, and Cristiano Ronaldo are probably the most common Portuguese attacking legends that are familiar to football fans. We will be looking at another Portuguese attacking magician here though, who often got overshadowed from the spotlight.
The player is Nuno Gomes, who was one of Portugal's most recognisable attacking players during the 1990s and 2000s. He was a consistent goal scorer for the national side, and was applauded for his brilliant link-up play as well. Let us take a look at his Portugal career.
Who is Nuno Gomes and what is his legacy in Portuguese football?
Nuno Gomes, a prolific Portuguese striker of the 1990s and 2000s, made a mark with 143 caps for Portugal. Despite a turbulent international journey, highlighted by a Euro 2000 ban, Gomes' excellence, including vital goals in Euros and World Cup qualifiers, solidified his legacy as a Portuguese football legend.
A wild start
Nuno Gomes made his debut for the Portuguese senior side at the age of 19 against England. Fast forward to his 4th start with the national side, he scored his first ever goal against England in a thrilling 3-2 comeback during the 2000 Euros. Despite making it to the semi-finals, Portugal were unable to overcome France. It was a match in which Gomes had scores as well, but his efforts went in vain.
However, he is unfortunately remembered for what happened after the match. An angry Gomes pushed referee Günter Benkö after the defeat, and it ultimately lead to a 7-month international ban. Gomes ended the tournament with 4 goals, and was a part of UEFA's Team of the Tournament.
Qualification performance, World Cup struggles, and Euros
Leaving the ban behind him, Gomes returned to the national side and was instrumental in helping Portugal qualify for the World Cup with 7 goals in 6 matches. However, the player struggled to hold a starting place when the tournament began. This saw him make only 2 appearances, which both came from the bench. The 2004 Euro Cup will forever be a heartbreak for Portuguese supports, as they were on the verge of greatness. Gomes had his best moment in the tournament's quarter-finals, as he scored the winner to help Portugal get past Spain.
Gomes struggled with injury issues during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers for Portugal, and was limited to only 4 appearances.
The final phase
The retirement of Portuguese legend Pauleta meant that Gomes was widely seen as the successor to his legendary role as Portugal's striker. Gomes put up a decent performance during the 2008 Euro qualifiers, which saw him score 3 goals in 10 appearances. He also captained the national side and even scored against Germany in the 2008 Euro quarter-finals. This feat also made him the fourth player to score at three straight European Championships.
After the appointment of Carlos Queiroz as Portugal manager, Gomes saw his minutes drastically decline for the national side. He played a very minor part in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, and was even left off the final squad for the tournament. It was the first time he was left out of a major tournament.
It was in short, the beginning of the end for Gomes in the national side. During the 2012 Euro qualifiers in 2011, Gomes went on to make 2 more appearances for Portugal. That was also the end of his era at Portugal, as the then 35 year old never played for the national side again.
The lack of playing time at his club during the 2011–12 season also meant the end for his dreams of playing in the 2012 FIFA World Cup.
Legacy
While his international career ended on a sour note, Nuno Gomes was instrumental for Portugal during his prime years. It was that excellence that saw him earn 143 caps for his country. In addition to his heroics for the Portuguese senior side, Gomes was a huge factor in the Portuguese under-20s side finishing third in the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship and fourth in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He is undoubtedly a legend of Portuguese football.
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