Portugal celebrates historic sporting achievements
It has been a historic week for Portuguese rugby, basketball, and track cycling.
Portugal’s national teams have made history this week with groundbreaking achievements in rugby and basketball, while track cyclist Iúri Leitão added to the nation’s success with a gold medal at the European Championships.
In a remarkable milestone for Portuguese rugby, the national team secured its spot in the 2027 Rugby World Cup, marking its third appearance in the tournament and the first time qualifying for consecutive editions.
This achievement underscores the growing strength and consistency of Portuguese rugby on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s women’s basketball team has also made history by qualifying for the 2025 Women’s EuroBasket for the first time ever.
This landmark moment highlights the rapid development of women’s basketball in the country and sets the stage for future success.
Adding to the celebrations, Iúri Leitão, a standout figure in Portuguese track cycling, claimed a gold medal in the points race at the European Track Cycling Championships on Thursday in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
This victory marks another historic achievement for Portugal in the sport, further solidifying Leitão’s status as one of the nation’s top athletes.
Track cycling
Iúri Leitão has achieved another historic title for Portuguese track cycling, after winning the gold medal in the points race at the European Track Cycling Championships this Thursday, in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
It is the third podium finish for Portugal in this edition of the competition.
The 26-year-old Iúri Leitão had already been crowned European vice-champion in this event in 2021, but this time he claimed the title with 157 points, surpassing Dutch rider Yanne Dorenbos, who came in second with 114 points, and Belgian rider Jasper de Buyst, who finished third with 106 points.
An Olympic champion in the madison at Paris 2024 alongside Rui Oliveira, and a silver medalist in the omnium at the same Games, the Portuguese cyclist secured his eighth medal at the European Track Cycling Championships, his fourth gold.
He also increased Portugal’s medal count in Belgium to three, following Rui Oliveira's silver in the elimination race and Maria Martins' bronze in the scratch race on Wednesday.
Rugby
Portugal clinched its third Rugby World Cup qualification after a decisive 56-14 victory over Germany in the second round of the Rugby Europe Championship 2025 in Lisbon.
The victory secures Portugal’s participation in the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, following appearances in 2007 and 2023. Notably, this marks the first time the national team, known as Os Lobos (The Wolves), has qualified for two consecutive World Cups.
Portugal’s qualification campaign saw a hard-fought 40-30 win over Belgium, where a crucial bonus point was secured. French-born players Nicolás Martíns and Hugo Camacho scored two tries each in the first half against Germany, putting Portugal in a commanding position.
Simão Bento added another in the second half, securing the dominant win.
Portugal will now face Romania on February 15, with hopes of finishing atop their pool and securing a favorable seeding for the Rugby Europe Championship semi-finals.
Women's Basketball
In another unprecedented achievement, Portugal’s women’s basketball team qualified for the EuroBasket 2025, marking its first-ever participation in the continental tournament.
Portugal secured its spot as one of the best second-placed teams in the qualifiers, following a 57-40 victory over Serbia in Coimbra.
The Linces (The Lynxes) overcame an early deficit to take the lead at halftime, with key performances from Márcia da Costa (15 points) and Maria Correia (12 points). Encouraged by a crowd of over 2,000 fans, Portugal extended its lead in the second half to seal the historic win.
“This is an emotional moment,” said Portuguese player Carolina Rodrigues. “It’s an honor to be here, part of this group. This achievement is the result of years of work across many generations.”
Portugal will join 15 other teams at EuroBasket 2025, set to take place in Czechia, Germany, Greece, and Italy from June 18 to 29.
President Acknowledges a Landmark Day for Portuguese Sports
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa praised the “excellent work and effort” of both teams, including players, coaches, technical staff, and federations, for their dedication in securing these historic milestones.
“These are two historic qualifications for national sports. Rugby secures its third World Cup appearance, marking the first time it has qualified for consecutive tournaments, while women's basketball earns its first-ever spot in the European Championship,” stated the President on the official website of the Portuguese Presidency.
On the same day, he also celebrated the success of young speed skater Jéssica Rodrigues, who won gold in the mass start event at the Junior World Ice Speed Skating Championships in Italy. She became Portugal’s first-ever world champion in a winter sport.
With these remarkable achievements, Portugal continues to assert itself on the international sports stage, demonstrating the growing strength and ambition of its national teams.