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Portugal are one of the top footballing nations in the world. The Iberian nation has been blessed with top players over the years, especially since the turn of the century.
In the last few years, Portugal have won the Euros (2016) and the Nations League (2019). They also made it to the semifinals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup (lost to France) and the final of Euro 2004 (lost to Greece).
They were knocked out in the Round of 16 in their last two major tournaments, and face an uphill task to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup (through the playoffs). Nevertheless, Portugal has a great blend of young and experienced campaigners who play for some of the top clubs in Europe.
On that note, here's a look at the top five Portugal players this year:
#5 Diogo Jota (Liverpool/Portugal)
Diogo Jota has had a fabulous year, especially since the start of the 2021-22 season.
The 25-year-old has scored ten goals to help Liverpool reach the second spot in the Premier League standings. He has also scored once in the Champions League, where Liverpool became the first English team to win all six games in the group stage.
The emergence of the Portugal winger is significant, as Roberto Firmino has had an injury-plagued year. Jota has also shined for Portugal this year, scoring five goals (four times in World Cup qualifiers and once at the Euros).
#4 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/Portugal)
Bruno Fernandes has been a breath of fresh air since arriving at Manchester United last year.
He's coming off a fabulous Premier League campaign - scoring 18 goals and assisting 13. That helped United finish second in the league. Even in the Europa League, his five goals and six assists helped his team reach the final, which they lost on penalties against Villarreal.
Fernandes started his 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a hat-trick, but has scored just twice in his next 15 games.
Fernandes hasn't scored in the Champions League this season, but he has bagged six assists. He was a no-show at the Euros, where holders Portugal crashed out in the Round of 16. However, he has scored four times and bagged two assists for his country this year.
#3 Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/Portugal)
Portugal right-back Joao Cancelo has been a key player for Manchester City this year.
The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in City's Premier League-winning campaign last season. He also helped Pep Guardiola's men reach their first Champions League final, which they lost to Chelsea.
The Portugal international is a force to be reckoned with at both ends. Last season, he contributed seven goals (three goals, four assists) across all competitions. However, he has already bettered those numbers this campaign, bagging three goals and seven assists. That includes one strike in the Premier League.
Cancelo was conspicuous by his absence at Euro 2020 after contracting COVID-19. However, he featured in five FIFA World Cup qualifying games this year, contributing an assist.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo has had a sizzling year for club and country. After ending his third and final season in Italy with his first Capocannoniere award, he returned to Manchester United this summer.
The 36-year-old has hit the ground running at his Old Trafford, scoring 13 times to single-handedly power United's stuttering campaign in multiple competitions.
Earlier in the summer, the Portugal captain bagged five goals and an assist at Euro 2020, where the lackluster holders were eliminated before the quarterfinals. Ronaldo won the Golden Boot in Euro 2020. Ronaldo (115) then broke Ali Daei (109)'s record to become the most prolific male scorer in international football.
The only reason Ronaldo isn't top of this list is because he failed to win a major title this year. Juventus finished fourth in Serie A, which ended their nine-season dominance in the Italian top flight. Meanwhile, his Portugal team couldn't defend their title at Euro 2020. Ronaldo's only silverware came in the Coppa Italia earlier in the year.
#1 Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/Portugal)
It has been a year of two contrasting halves for Bernardo Silva. He was on the cusp of leaving Manchester City this summer after bagging only three goals and eight assists across all competitions last season. Things didn't improve on the international front as well.
Like most of his high-profile teammates, Silva flopped at Euro 2020 as Portugal fell to Belgium in the Round of 16. However, he has spectacularly redeemed himself since the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
With seven goals and an assist, the attacking midfielder has dazzled for the Premier League leaders and defending champions.
With Portugal, he could have fared better, though, contributing to five goals so far. However, that doesn't take anything away from the spectacular year Silva has enjoyed, especially in the last few months.
