Portugal national under-21 football team
The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation. They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future.
Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Portuguese under-21 team was formed. Until 1994, the team had a rather poor record, failing to qualify for each of the first eight UEFA under-21 Championships. Since 1994, the team has improved its record greatly, qualifying for five of the next seven tournaments, including the 2006 finals.
Having qualified for the 2006 tournament finals, UEFA announced that Portugal would host the finals in May and June. From 2007 onwards, host nations will be announced before the qualification stage and will not need to qualify.
Competitive record
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Player records
Top appearances
| Rank | Player | Club | Year | U-21 Caps |
| 1 | Manuel Fernandes | Benfica, Portsmouth, Everton, Valencia | 2004–2008 | 30 |
| 2 | Silvestre Varela | Sporting CP, Casa Pia, Vitória Setúbal | 2004–2007 | 28 |
| Ricardo Quaresma | Sporting CP, Barcelona, Porto | 2002–2006 | 28 | |
| João Pereira | Benfica, Gil Vicente, Braga | 2004–2008 | 28 | |
| Fernando Brassard | Marítimo, Gil Vicente, Vitória Guimarães | 1991–1994 | 28 | |
| 6 | Hugo Almeida | Porto, União Leiria, Boavista, Werder Bremen | 2002–2007 | 27 |
| 7 | Ednilson | Roma, Benfica | 2000–2003 | 26 |
| Raul Meireles | Aves, Boavista, Porto | 2003–2006 | 26 | |
| 9 | Edgar | Alverca, Real Madrid, Málaga | 1997–1999 | 25 |
| Cândido Costa | Porto, Vitória Setúbal, Derby County | 2000–2004 | 25 |
Note: Club represents the clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Year | U-21 Goals |
| 1 | Hugo Almeida | Porto, União Leiria, Boavista, Werder Bremen | 2002–2007 | 16 |
| 2 | Hélder Postiga | Porto, Tottenham | 2001–2003 | 12 |
| Toni | Porto, Braga | 1992–1994 | 12 | |
| 4 | Paulo Costa | Alverca, Inter Milan, Reggina, Porto | 2000–2002 | 9 |
| 5 | Simão Sabrosa | Sporting CP, Barcelona | 1998–2001 | 8 |
| Rui Fonte | Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Sporting CP, Vitória Setúbal, Espanyol | 2008–2012 | 8 | |
| 7 | Orlando Sá | Braga, Porto | 2008–2010 | 7 |
| Miguel Bruno | Feirense, Paços Ferreira, Beira-Mar | 1992–1994 | 7 | |
| Dani | Sporting CP, West Ham United, Ajax | 1995–1996 | 7 | |
| Ivan Cavaleiro | Benfica, Deportivo La Coruña | 2013–2015 | 7 |
Note: Club represents the clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
Current squad
The following 23 players have been called up for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Poland.Caps and goals are correct as of 20 November 2018 after the game against Poland.
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Previous squads
;U-21 European Championship squads- 2015 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship squads – Portugal
- 2007 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship squads – Portugal
- 2006 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship squads – Portugal
- 2004 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship squads – Portugal
- 2002 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship squads – Portugal
- 1996 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship squads – Portugal
- 1994 UEFA Under-21 Football Championship squads – Portugal
Head coaches
Honours
- UEFA Under-21 European Championship runners-up: 2015