Ricardo Quaresma

The trivela master who danced through defenses in two distinct eras at Porto.

Ricardo Quaresma is a Portuguese former professional winger whose mercurial talent captivated fans worldwide with tricks like the rabona and the trivela. Born in Lisbon on September 26, 1983, he began his career at Sporting CP before moving to Barcelona, Inter Milan, and eventually finding his most enduring success with FC Porto. He played for Porto twice: first from 2004 to 2008, where he helped the team reach runners-up in the league and win the Intercontinental Cup, and again from 2014 until 2016. During these spells, he delivered memorable performances against giants like Bayern Munich and Napoli, cementing his status as a club icon despite stints at other European heavyweights.

Quick Facts

Full name: Ricardo Andrade Quaresma Bernardo
Born: 26 September 1983
Birthplace: Lisbon, Portugal
Height: 1.75 m / 5 ft 9 in
Position: Winger

Lore & Background

Quaresma's first spell at Porto began in the summer of 2004, arriving as part of a swap deal that saw Deco move to Barcelona. He started immediately with impact, scoring the only goal in a Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira victory over Benfica and netting against Valencia in the UEFA Super Cup. That debut season saw him score five league goals as Porto finished runners-up, culminating in an Intercontinental Cup triumph in Yokohama where he converted his penalty in an 8–7 shootout win against Once Caldas. His second return on January 1, 2014, was greeted by over 10,000 fans at training. He shone in Europe, scoring a consolation goal against Sevilla and setting up a goal while scoring himself against Napoli. A defining moment came on April 15, 2015, when he scored twice in the first ten minutes to lead Porto to a stunning 3–1 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Quaresma's Porto career, there are two distinct chapters to study. The first began in summer 2004 when he signed for a fee valued at €6 million as Deco departed. In his first year alone, he scored five league goals and won the Intercontinental Cup via a penalty shootout victory over Once Caldas. After spells at Barcelona, Inter Milan (where he received the Bidone d'oro award), Chelsea, and Beşiktaş, he returned to Porto on January 1, 2014. This second era was marked by high-level European performances: scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt, netting and assisting against Napoli, and delivering a brace against Bayern Munich in 2015. He also scored a trademark trivela goal against Fenerbahçe during his subsequent stint at Beşiktaş, but his Porto legacy is defined by those two spells where he consistently delivered flair and crucial goals against top European opposition.