Portuguese football was concentrated on Monday night at the Centro Cultural de Belém, in Lisbon, where the Gala das Quinas de Ouro 2024 took place, in which awards were presented that reward the ‘excellence of being Portuguese’, under the motto ‘I am Portugal’

The Portuguese Football Federation, in collaboration with the Players’ Union and the Coaches’ Association, took advantage of the lull in professional competitions and the concentration of national teams in the Football City to bring together not only the “cream” of Portuguese football but also futsal, beach soccer, and other sports that have improved Portugal’s reputation in recent years.

A ceremony that featured the main personalities of Portuguese football, starting with the internationals who were called up by Roberto Martínez for the next Nations League commitments, with tributes to the careers of players such as Rúben Dias, Diogo Costa, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva .

Opponents in Manchester but partners in the National Team, Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes were highlighted at the 2024 edition of the Quinas de Ouro Gala. The stars from City and United were recognized at the Belém Cultural Center.

Vasco Palmeirim, one of the presenters of the night, confronted the duo with a historical fact: both wore the Portugal shirt for the first time, on the same day, more precisely on December 4, 2012, in a duel against Turkey.

“It’s my first memory with the Seleção. It was a special milestone for me and it was good to share this moment with Bernardo. Being in the Seleção means being among the best, whatever the sport or category. There is nothing more rewarding than to be able to represent our country”, highlighted Bruno Fernandes.

Bernardo Silva confesses that he no longer feels the nervousness of the early days. “Experience gives us the ability to deal with these moments of pressure in another way. But I’m not going to lie, nor am I going to say that we don’t become like 10-year-old kids playing at school, when we represent Portugal in a European or World Cup. There’s always a chills that come from inside”, he confessed.

Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva received the Quinas de Ouro trophy from the hands of Humberto Coelho, glory of the National Team and vice-president of the Portuguese Football Federation.