In an ongoing Group E match of the Women’s World Cup, Portugal faced a tough challenge against the strong European team, the Netherlands, in their first-ever World Cup appearance.
Notably, before the match, the chants of fans from both sides echoed throughout the stadium. When the Portuguese national anthem was played, more than one player could not hold back their emotions and shed tears.
Sadly, these tears were not solely due to the excitement of patriotism but also carried a deep sense of bitterness—this is the first World Cup for many Portuguese players, and it might also be their last.
When Ana Borges received an invitation from Plasencia FC Zaragoza in Spain at the age of 17, it was 2007, and there was no professional women’s league in Portugal. She had no choice but to leave her homeland.
Following her lead, other Portuguese girls also began their overseas adventures. This marked the start of her successful club career, during which she played for teams like Atlético Madrid and Chelsea, becoming the most capped player for Portugal with 159 appearances. In this World Cup, she is not the only centurion in the Portuguese dressing room.
Borges is the team captain, and seven of her teammates have also made over 100 appearances for Portugal: Carol Costa, Sílvia Rebolo, Dolores Silva, Tatiana Pinto, Carolina Mendes, and Jessica Silva.
“This World Cup belongs to them,” said the 20-year-old rising star Nazaré. “I know I am part of this historic moment, but my predecessors have been waiting for over a decade. When they started playing, I wasn’t even born.”
Carolina Mendes, at 35, is the oldest player on this Portuguese squad. For her, this is her first time representing Portugal at the World Cup, and it could also be her last.
