Rui Patrício, former Sporting and National Team goalkeeper, has ended his career. The announcement was made by the Portuguese Football Federation, which will hold a farewell ceremony for the guardian next Friday, December 12th, in Cidade do Futebol.
«European Champion in 2016 and winner of the League of Nations in 2019, Rui Patrício was a regular presence in major international competitions. He was at Euro 2008, but only made his debut for National Team A in November 2010, against Spain. His last game for Equipa das Quinas took place in March 2024, against Sweden. Over more than a decade, Rui Patrício has not missed a single qualifying game for the European or World Championships. With 108 games for the National Team A, he is the most capped goalkeeper ever and is part of the restricted group of Portuguese footballers who have surpassed the symbolic mark of 100 caps”, highlights the FPF’s message.
After leaving Sporting, in the summer of 2018, Rui Patrício represented Wolverhampton, in England, Atalanta and Roma, in Italy and, more recently, Al Ain, from the United Arab Emirates, during the emblem’s participation in the Club World Cup. Since the end of the FIFA competition he had been without a club and now, at 37 years old, hang up the gloves.
Rui Patrício won eight titles throughout his career, five of them with Sporting — two Portuguese Cups, as many Super Cups and a League Cup. Conquered, by Rome, the Conference League and, for the National Team, two more collective awards: he won the 2019 Nations League and, in 2016, he was a key player in winning the Euro. He was named goalkeeper of the tournament and came 12th in the Ballon d’Or race, ahead of any other goalkeeper. Griezmann’s header save in the European Championship final is immortalized in the statue near the Municipal Stadium in Leiria, the goalkeeper’s hometown.
