Portuguese · Braga, Portugal · Born 5 July 1976Portuguese striker who became one of Portugal's greatest goalscorers, winning Euro 2000 Golden Boot and earning 79 caps with 29 international goals
Nuno Miguel dos Santos Gomes was born on 5 July 1976 in Amarante, Portugal, and joined the youth academy of Boavista, progressing to the first team by 1994. As a boy, he was nicknamed "Gomes" after Portuguese footballing great Fernando Gomes, a moniker that stuck with him throughout his professional career and effectively became the name by which he was known. Gomes moved to Benfica in 1997, and though a two-year spell at Italy's Fiorentina interrupted his time at the club, he returned in 2002 for a second, longer stint, ultimately spending 12 seasons in total at Benfica and becoming one of the most beloved and recognisable Portuguese forwards of his generation. He scored 166 goals in 398 appearances for the club, combining reliable goalscoring with the ability to link up play and create chances for teammates. Gomes represented Portugal at the 2000, 2004, and 2008 European Championships as well as the 2002 World Cup, forming part of the celebrated "Golden Generation" of Portuguese football alongside Luís Figo and Rui Costa. He was capped for his country from 1996 through 2011, one of the longest international careers of any Portuguese player of his era. After Benfica, Gomes played for Braga before finishing his career with a season at Blackburn Rovers in England in 2012. He was honoured with Portugal's Order of Infante D. Henrique in recognition of his contributions to the sport, and remains one of the most consistently productive strikers in the history of Portuguese football.
Golden Boot winner at Euro 2000
His Golden Goal against England at Euro 2000 is one of the most memorable moments in Portuguese football history.
Did You Know?How They Played
Clinical finisher with excellent positioning and aerial ability
Lasting Impact
One of Portugal's most prolific strikers and Euro 2000 top scorer
Career Honours
- Euro 2000 Quarter-Final Goal vs England
- 79 Portugal caps, 29 goals
- Primeira Liga 2x
- Euro 2000 Golden Boot
- Primeira Liga 2005
- Primeira Liga 2010
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boavista | 1997–2000 | 75 | 22 | #10 |
| Benfica | 2002–2009 | 183 | 118 | — |
| Fiorentina | 2000–2002 | 45 | 12 | — |
| Penafiel | 1995–1997 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2009–2011 | 35 | 6 | — |
 Portugal | — | 79 | 29 | — |
Portuguese Athletes