Portuguese talent always leaves its mark in Europe’s club competitions. The 2024/2025 Champions League season was an especially auspicious one for several Seleção players as Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos played key roles for Paris Saint-Germain as the French club won the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
While a new name was inscribed on the famous European Cup trophy, two other historical clubs, Manchester United and AC Milan, are at the start of the road to recovery as regards their continental ambitions, underpinned by two more Seleção stars, Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leão respectively. Fernandes, Leão and Vitinha may be focused on World Cup glory with Portugal next summer, but they are three players who also carry hopes of shining on the big-stage in European nights in the coming years.
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes, born in Maia in 1994, took an unusual route to the top, going to Italy as an unknown teenager, impressing there and back in Portugal at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2020. He had by then built a reputation for plentiful goals, penalty calmness, and a knack for creating chances. Over the seasons, he became captain and a central playmaker at Old Trafford, always impressing individually despite his team often not matching his level.
In European competition, his record in the Champions League includes multiple appearances at United, where he’s mixed assists and goals. While Manchester United often struggles in Europe, Bruno remains a hinge. Here are some of his recent stats:
- In the disastrous 2024/25 Premier League, from 32 starts + 1 sub appearance he accumulated 18 goal contributions (8 goals, 10 assists).
- In all competitions for Manchester United that season: 57 games, 37 goal involvements (19 goals, 18 assists).
- Won the “Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year” award (Manchester United) for a record-equalling fourth time in 2025.
In 2024-25, he delivered key passes and linkup play, even when the team around him lacked consistency. His leadership shows in how United look to him to unlock tight defences, especially in close-fought matches where every goal counts.
Rafael Leão
Rafael Leão, born in Almada in 1999, came from Sporting’s youth ranks before moving abroad and eventually landing at AC Milan in 2019. At Milan, he has grown in confidence, refining his dribbling, off-ball movement and nose for goal. His value sits not just in goals but in how he stretches defences, drags markers wide, and opens spaces for others. And the numbers confirm this:
- Since signing for Milan Leão has scored 6 goals and provided 6 assists in Champions League play.
- Recognised as “MVP” in Italy in 2021/22after the key role he played in the club’s Serie A championship triumph that season.
- Serie A statistics in 2024/25: 34 appearances, 8 goals, 8 assists in the season.
Milan have a rich history in the European Cup and Champions League, winning the trophy a total of 7 times, which is only bettered by Real Madrid. Current coach Massimiliano Allegri has earmarked Leão as a key player as he attempts to lift the Italian giants to their former glory, no least in the Champions League.
Vitinha
Vitinha hails from Vila das Aves, rose through youth system at FC Porto, with a season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers, before joining Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the 2022/23 season. Last season, he helped PSG win their first Champions League trophy, part of a glorious season where PSG completed a treble having also won the French league and cup. Vitinha was ranked in third place in the Ballon d’Or vote for the best player in the world in 2024/25.
- In Champions League 2024/25, he played 17 matches, scoring 2 goals, 2 assists.
- He had the highest passing accuracy of all players in the UCL: ~93.75%.
- As well as winning the treble with PSG, Vitinha also won the Nations League with Portugal.
Vitinha plays more of a linking and controlling role than scoring. For fans following Champions League odds and predictions, Vitinha’s consistency in midfield explains why PSG are often backed as favourites.
Final thoughts
Bruno Fernandes drives Manchester United with creativity and leadership, Rafael Leão stretches defences for Milan, and Vitinha at PSG anchors the midfield of the current European champions and arguably the strongest club side in world football right now. Together, these Portuguese standouts can shape the coming seasons of Champions League play, each in his own way carrying club hopes while maintaining Portugal’s reputation for the production of supreme players.
