Following two under-20 world championships in 1989 and 1991, the Portuguese U17 squad made history yesterday, returning Portuguese football to the world stage after a 34-year wait.

In the U17 World Cup final held in Al Rayyan, Qatar, forward Anisio Cabral scored the only goal, securing Portugal's victory over Austria. This triumph completed a double for the U17 Portuguese team in 2025, adding the U17 European championship to their U17 world title.

Portuguese players celebrate their U17 World Cup victory at Al Rayyan Stadium, Qatar. *Photo: Selecao Portugal*

Portugal's inaugural U17 world championship was further highlighted by individual accolades: playmaker Mateus Mide won the Golden Ball, and center-back Mauro Furtado received the Bronze Ball. Cabral, the final's goal-scorer, finished second in the scoring charts, earning the Silver Boot with 7 goals, while goalkeeper Romario Cunha was awarded the Golden Glove.

Head coach Bino Macaes, a member of the U16 Portuguese team that won a world bronze medal in 1989, joined his former mentor Carlos Queiroz as one of the rare managers to lead the nation's football to the pinnacle of world football.

The U17 World Cup final saw a balanced match, with both teams playing openly and creating an equal number of shots. Austria's strength lay in having the tournament's best defense, conceding only one goal before the final match. In contrast, Portugal's U17 team had scored 22 goals over the same period.

In the 32nd minute, defender Furtado delivered a through ball to right-winger Duarte Cunha. After a one-two pass with Mide, Duarte assisted Cabral, who scored into an open net, marking the final's only goal.

Witnessing the U17 squad write a new chapter in Portuguese football history, Cristiano Ronaldo immediately posted congratulations on Instagram. The 40-year-old superstar wrote: "Great! Congratulations, world champions!"

Across all age groups in the national team system, Portugal now lacks only two major titles: the U21 European championship and the World Cup, which Ronaldo and his teammates will aim to conquer in North America in the summer of 2026.

Ha Phuong (according to A Bola)