Sports in Portugal are very popular, are a very strong component of Portuguese culture, and have been, in the last years increasing the quality and variety of offer. The country has several well organized annual competitions, on a professional and on an amateur level, throughout several sports.

In a country with ten million people, Portugal has 400 thousand federated athletes, both amateur and professional, which pictures well how deep routed, sports are in the Portuguese life.But of course, some are much more popular than others. It has to do with the country’s history and its influences, and how the various sports activities evolve, maintain the interest or grow its base of supporters.

Although some popular sports in Portugal, are expected to be so, others are more surprising. Below, we go through a list of the most played and popular sports, in Portugal, and how they position in people’s lives.

Football

Like the majority of countries in the world, football is the most popular by far. The country has produced many great players, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, and Eusébio, but also, especially in the last few years, has formed many great coaches like José Mourinho and Leonardo Jardim.The Portuguese professional leagues have been growing in quality and competitiveness,  clubs are betting and investing more in training and forming young players, and that translated in great achievements, like the national team that won the UEFA Euro 2016 Cup.

Futsal

After football, futsal is probably the most popular, although much more on an amateur level. Because it is a sport played with fewer players, it is easier for people to gather with or co-workers, and play a game to relax and have fun.The professional league has been growing in the last few years, but compared with football, it still has a long way to go, but it has been showing great quality.Portugal also has a great national team and has one of the best players in the world, Ricardinho.

Roller Hockey

Although it isn’t the world wide known sport, in Portugal, is one of the most popular, especially among younger people. Almost every town has its local team and its training center. The professional league is quite developed,  and many strong football clubs have its roller hockey team, which grabs the attention and the support from many people. On the international level, Portugal not only as great clubs competing, but also has a great national team, one of the best, which has won many international cups till this day.

Cycling

Portuguese love cycling. On weekends is very frequent to see, large groups of amateurs cyclists, gathering and riding for several kilometers, relaxing and having a good time. And not only that, but people love to watch the professional competitions, and especially the annual big one, the Portugal Tour, that goes around the country. It is in the same structure as the France Tour, where there are huge crowds, people cheering and watching this great event.