Sporting CP begin their Champions League campaign with the visit of Kairat Almaty. The Portuguese giants enter the game as firm favourites against the side ranked bottom in the power rankings.
But how well would this team do? Here’s the ultimate Sporting XI if they were able to keep hold of their star players.
GK: Rui Patrício
Having spent 18 years at Sporting and played 429 games for the club, Rui Patrício was one of a handful of players who left in 2018.
With over 100 caps for the Portuguese national team, Patrício joined Wolverhampton Wanderers, playing 127 times as Wolves reached European football. He has since played for Roma, Atalanta and Al Ain.
LB: Nuno Mendes
Nuno Mendes is widely considered one of the best full-backs on the planet, having been a key player as PSG lifted the quadruple last season.
The 23-year-old made 47 appearances for Sporting before moving to the French capital.
CBs: Gonçalo Inácio and Ousmane Diomande
The centre-back pairing are both current Sporting players.
Gonçalo Inácio came through Sporting’s prestigious academy and has been at the heart of Sporting’s defence in the two title successes, whilst Ousmane Diomande was signed from Midtjylland in the January of 2023 for €12.5m and has made over 100 appearances for Leões.
RB: Pedro Porro
Sporting signed Pedro Porro from Manchester City for €8.5m in 2022 after two years on loan in Lisbon, before Tottenham came calling six months later.
The Spanish right-back joined Spurs on a six-month loan before completing a €40m transfer to North London. Strong profit.
DM: João Palhinha
Palhinha joined Sporting in 2012, spending eight years on the periphery before breaking into the midfield consistently.
After two solid campaigns between 2020-2022, Fulham spent €25m to bring him in, where he proved to be the heart of the midfield at Craven Cottage. In 2024 he was sold to Bayern for north of €50m, but after just a season in Munich he was loaned back to London with Tottenham.
CM: Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes delivered 105 goals and assists across 135 games for the club.
He was sold to Manchester United for €65m in 2020, which facilitated Sporting’s return to the top. Fernandes has consistently been United’s best player since, scoring 99 goals and claiming 83 assists across 294 games for the club.
CM: Matheus Nunes
Matheus Nunes joined Sporting in 2019 on deadline day in January, having spent just six months at Estoril Praia.
After just over 100 games for Sporting, Nunes joined Wolves in a deal worth €47.4m in 2022. After just a year in Wolverhampton, Wolves made €15m profit in a sale to Manchester City, with just a goal and an assist for the club.
The 27-year-old is far more than goal contributions though and has shown his versatility under Pep Guardiola, often deployed as a right back.
LW: Rafael Leão
AC Milan winger Rafa Leão started his career at Sporting but made just four appearances for the first team before leaving for Lille.
A superb winger whose only season in Ligue 1 earned him a €49.5m switch to AC Milan, Leão has recorded more than 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions in four consecutive seasons for the Rossoneri, lifting the Scudetto in 2022.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres
Viktor Gyökeres raised eyebrows when he moved to Sporting in 2023 from Championship side Coventry City, having previously been on the books of Brighton and Hove Albion.
Two titles and 123 goal contributions in 102 games later, you know the rest. Arsenal paid €65m for his services and the big Swede looks to be settling in well.
RW: Raphinha
Ballon D’or contender Raphinha joined Sporting from Vitoria Guimarães in 2018 for €6.5m – signalling the beginning of a rebuild – but spent just a season at Sporting before a €21m switch to Rennes.
Raphinha made a name for himself at Leeds United in the Premier League, netting 29 goal contributions over two seasons which earned him a move to Barcelona. After two solid seasons, Raphinha exploded last season, netting 34 goals and 22 assists.
Honourable Mention: Cristiano Ronaldo
Five Ballon d’Or’s, seven Champions League Golden Boots, the Euros, two Nations League trophies, two Serie A titles, two La Liga titles, three Premier League titles, five Champions League titles; not bad for the boy from Madeira.
