The following is a list of notable and historically significant people from Portugal.

15th century

right|thumb|100px|[[Vasco da Gama, discoverer of the sea route to India]]

right|thumb|100px|[[Pedro Álvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil]]

right|thumb|100px|[[João Vaz Corte-Real, discoverer of Newfoundland.]]

right|thumb|100px|[[Afonso de Albuquerque, naval admiral and viceroy of India.]]

right|thumb|100px|[[Fernão Mendes Pinto, writer and one of the first to travel to Japan]]

  • Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia, explorer of the African coast
  • Álvaro Caminha, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • Álvaro Martins, explorer of the African coast
  • Alvise Cadamosto, explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast
  • André Gonçalves, explorer of the sea route to Brazil
  • Antão Gonçalves, explorer of the African coast
  • Álvaro Fernandes, explorer of the African coast
  • Bartolomeu Dias, explorer of the African coast
  • Bartolomeu Perestrelo, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • Dinis Dias, explorer of the African coast
  • Diogo Cão, explorer of the African coast
  • Diogo de Azambuja, explorer of the African coast
  • Diogo de Teive, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • Diogo Dias, explorer of the Atlantic islands, of the African coast and the Indian Ocean, discovered Madagascar
  • Diogo Silves, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • Duarte Pacheco Pereira, explorer of the Atlantic
  • Fernão do Pó, explorer of the African coast
  • Gil Eanes, explorer of the African coast
  • Gonçalo Velho, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • João de Santarém, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • João Gonçalves Zarco, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • João Grego, explorer of the African coast
  • João Infante, explorer of the African coast
  • João Vaz Corte-Real, explorer of North America
  • Lopes Gonçalves, explorer of the Atlantic
  • Nicolau Coelho, explorer of the sea route to Brazil
  • Nuno Tristão, explorer of the African coast
  • Paulo da Gama, explorer of the sea route to India
  • Pedro Álvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil in 1500
  • Pedro Escobar, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • Pero de Alenquer, explorer of the African coast
  • Pero de Sintra, explorer of the African coast
  • Pero Dias, explorer of the African coast
  • Pero Vaz de Caminha, explorer of the sea route to Brazil
  • Tristão Vaz Teixeira, explorer of the Atlantic islands
  • Vasco da Gama, led the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498

15th/16th century

  • Afonso de Paiva, diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia
  • Fernão de Noronha, explorer of the Atlantic
  • Gaspar de Lemos, explorer of the Atlantic and of the sea route to Brazil
  • Gonçalo Coelho, explorer of the South American coast
  • João Fernandes Lavrador, explorer of North America
  • Pero da Covilhã, diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia and India
  • Pero de Barcelos, explorer of North America
  • Francisco Zeimoto, explorer and trader one of the first to reach Japan

16th century

  • Afonso de Albuquerque, naval admiral and viceroy of India
  • António de Abreu, explorer of Indonesia
  • António Mota, among the first to reach Japan
  • Bento de Góis, explorer
  • Cristóvão Jacques, explorer of the Brazilian coast
  • Cristóvão de Mendonça, some have claimed he discovered Australia; this is disputed
  • Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, explorer of the Indian Ocean
  • Diogo Rodrigues, explorer of the Indian Ocean
  • Duarte Fernandes, diplomat in Thailand
  • Estevão da Gama, explorer of the Indian Ocean
  • Fernão Lopez, soldier in India and first resident of the island of Saint Helena
  • Fernão Mendes Pinto, among the first to reach Japan
  • Fernão Pires de Andrade, merchant in China
  • Francisco Álvares, missionary and explorer in Ethiopia
  • Francisco de Almeida, explorer and viceroy of India
  • Gaspar Corte-Real, explorer of North America
  • Gomes de Sequeira, some claim he discovered Australia; this is disputed
  • João da Nova, explorer of the Atlantic and of the Indian Ocean
  • Jorge Álvares, the first to reach China
  • João Rodrigues Cabrilho, discoverer of California
  • Lourenço Marques, trader and explorer in East Africa
  • Martim Afonso de Sousa, explorer and soldier in India
  • Miguel Corte-Real, explorer of North America
  • Paulo Dias de Novais, colonizer of Africa
  • Pedro Mascarenhas, explorer of the Indian Ocean
  • Tristão da Cunha, naval general and discoverer
  • Ferdinand Magellan, led the first successful attempt to circumnavigate the Earth (1519–1522); explorer of the Pacific Ocean

17th century

  • Estêvão Cacella, missionary and explorer of Tibet, first European in Bhutan
  • Baltasar Fernandes, explorer of Brazil's interior
  • Jerónimo Lobo, missionary and explorer of Ethiopia
  • Luís Vaz de Torres, 16th-century/17th-century explorer of south-west Pacific
  • Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, 16th-century/17th-century explorer of south-west Pacific, some claim he discovered Australia
  • Pedro Teixeira, explorer of the Amazon River
  • António Raposo Tavares, bandeirante

18th century

  • Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira, explorer of Brazil's interior
  • Francisco de Lacerda, explorer of Africa

19th century

  • Alexandre de Serpa Pinto, explorer of Africa
  • António da Silva Porto, explorer of Africa
  • Hermenegildo Capelo, explorer of Africa
  • Roberto Ivens, explorer of Africa

20th century

  • Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air

Monarchs

  • Monarchs of Portugal

Saints

right|thumb|100px|[[Anthony of Padua|Saint Anthony of Lisbon (or Padua)]]

  • Amador of Portugal (Early Christianity)
  • Anthony of Lisbon (1195–1231)
  • Beatrice of Silva (1424–1490)
  • Elizabeth of Portugal (1271–1336)
  • Felix the Hermit (9th century)
  • Francisco Marto (1908–1919)
  • Fructuosus of Braga (7th century)
  • Irene of Tomar (7th century)
  • Jacinta Marto (1910–1920)
  • John de Brito (1647–1693)
  • John of God (1495–1550)
  • Julia (3rd century)
  • Mantius of Évora (Early Christianity)
  • Martin of Braga (520–580)
  • Maxima (3rd century)
  • Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360–1431)
  • Peter of Rates (1st century)
  • Quiteria (5th century)
  • Rita Amada de Jesus (1848–1913)
  • Rudesind (10th century)
  • Saint Ovidius (1st and 2nd centuries)
  • Theotonius (1088–1166)
  • Verissimus (3rd century)
  • Wilgefortis (folk saint)

Blessed

  • Alexandrina of Balasar (1904–1955)
  • Amadeus of Portugal (1420–1482)
  • Bartolomeu dos Mártires (1514–1590)
  • Ferdinand the Holy Prince (1402–1443)
  • Inácio de Azevedo (1528–1570)
  • Joan, Princess of Portugal (1452–1490)
  • Mafalda of Portugal (1190–1256)
  • Sancha of Portugal (1180–1229)
  • Teresa of Portugal (1181–1250)
  • Elizabeth of Portugal (1282–1325)

Religious

  • António de Andrade (1580–1634), missionary, explorer of Tibet
  • António Vieira (1608–1697), writer, diplomat and preacher
  • João Ferreira Annes de Almeida (1628–1691), missionary
  • Luís Fróis, jesuit and missionary in Japan
  • Paulo António de Carvalho e Mendonça (1702–1770), priest and cardinal, Inquisitor-General of the Holy Inquisition
  • Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos (1907–2005), visionary, involved in the 1917 Fátima events
  • Paulus Orosius (385–420), historian, theologian and disciple of St. Augustine

Popes

right|thumb|100px|[[Pope John XXI]]

  • Damasus I, 4th-century pope
  • John XXI, 13th-century pope

Philosophers

  • Agostinho da Silva (1906–1996)
  • António Castanheira Neves (born 1929)
  • António Sérgio (1883–1969)
  • Damião de Góis (1502–1574)
  • Eduardo Lourenço (1923–2020)
  • José Gil (born 1939)

Musicians

  • Adriano Correia de Oliveira (1942–1982), singer
  • Alfredo Keil (1850–1907), composer of the Portuguese anthem
  • Ana Free (born 1987), singer
  • Ana Moura (born 1979), singer, fadista
  • António Zambujo (born 1975), singer, fadista
  • Alfredo Marceneiro (1891–1982), fado singer
  • Amália Rodrigues (1920–1999), the most famous fado singer
  • António Fragoso (1897–1918), piano composer
  • António Pinho Vargas (born 1951), classical, jazz and piano composer
  • António Variações (1944–1984), singer-songwriter
  • Aurea, singer
  • Camané (born 1967), singer, fadista
  • Carlos do Carmo (1939–2021), singer, fadista
  • Carlos Paredes (1925–2004), Portuguese guitar player
  • Carlos Seixas (1704–1742), composer
  • Cristina Branco (born 1972), fado singer
  • Danny Fernandes, singer
  • David Fonseca (born 1973), singer
  • Diogo Piçarra, singer
  • DJ Vibe, DJ
  • Duarte Lobo (1565–1646), composer
  • Dulce Pontes (born 1969), singer
  • Fernando Lopes Graça (1906–1995), composer
  • Fernando Ribeiro (born 1974), Moonspell vocals
  • Francisco d'Andrade (1856–1921), international opera baritone
  • Guilhermina Suggia (1885–1950), cellist
  • Isabel Soveral (born 1961), composer
  • Jay Kay (born 1969), singer; Portuguese father
  • João Domingos Bomtempo (1775–1842), composer
  • Joaquim José Antunes (1725–1790), harpsichord maker
  • Jorge Palma (born 1950), singer, pianist and songwriter
  • José Afonso (1929–1987), aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player
  • Luciana Abreu (born 1985), singer, composer, actress, TV host
  • Lúcia Moniz (born 1976), singer, actress
  • Luís de Freitas Branco (1890–1955), composer
  • Luísa Todi (1753–1833), lyrical singer
  • Mafalda Arnauth (born 1974), fado singer
  • Malvina Garrigues (1825–1904), opera soprano
  • Manuela Azevedo, singer
  • Maria Ascensão (1926–2001), folklorist
  • Maria João Pires (born 1944), piano player
  • Maria João (born 1956), jazz singer
  • Mário Laginha (born 1960), piano player
  • Mariza (born 1973), fado singer
  • Mísia, fado singer
  • Nelly Furtado, singer
  • Nuno Bettencourt (born 1966), guitarist, singer-songwriter
  • Paulo Furtado, blues performer
  • Pedro de Escobar (c. 1465 – 1535), composer
  • Rita Guerra (born 1967), singer
  • Rita Redshoes, singer
  • Rui da Silva, disc jockey
  • Rui Gomes de Briteiros (1190? - 1249), troubadour
  • Rui Veloso (born 1957), singer
  • Salvador Sobral (born 1989), singer
  • Sara Tavares (born 1978), singer
  • Shawn Desman, singer
  • Shawn Mendes, singer
  • Sérgio Godinho (born 1948), singer
  • Steve Perry, lead singer of band Journey
  • Teresa Salgueiro (born 1969), Madredeus vocals
  • José Vianna da Motta (1868–1948), piano player, composer
  • Vitorino (born 1942), singer

Writers

right|thumb|100px|[[José Maria de Eça de Queiroz, realist writer]]

Fictionists

  • Agustina Bessa-Luís
  • Alexandre Herculano
  • Almeida Garrett, also a poet and playwright
  • Gonçalo M. Tavares
  • José Rodrigues Miguéis (1901–1980), writer
  • José Saramago,
  • Júlio Dinis
  • Mário de Sá-Carneiro, novelist and poet
  • Miguel Torga, also a poet
  • Ramalho Ortigão
  • Raul Brandão (1867–1930)
  • Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão, poet and writer
  • Guerra Junqueiro, poet and writer
  • Herberto Hélder
  • Manuel Alegre, poet, writer and politician
  • Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage (1908–2015)
  • Marco Martins (born 1972)
  • Miguel Gomes
  • Pedro Costa
  • Rita Azevedo Gomes
  • Vasco Nunes (1974–2016), director, cinematographer, producer

Others

  • Vera Mantero (born 1966), dancer and choreographer

Soldiers

  • Álvaro Vaz de Almada (count of Avranches) (1390–1449), knight of the Garter, Captain-major of Portugal, killed in battle
  • Fernando de Almada (count of Avranches) (1430–1496), Captain-major of Portugal
  • Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho (1936–2021), chief strategist of the Carnation Revolution of Portugal
  • Aníbal Augusto Milhais (1895–1970), most decorated soldier Ordem de Torre e Espada do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito of Portugal
  • Salgueiro Maia (1944–1992), Captain who led a cavalry unit into Lisbon during the Carnation Revolution of Portugal

Sports

Football

  • Bernardo Silva (born 1994) football player
  • Carlos Queiroz, football coach
  • Costinha (born 1974), football player
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (born 1985), football player
  • Dinis Vital (1932–2014), football player
  • Diogo Jota (1996–2025), football player
  • Eusébio (1942–2014), football player, born in Portuguese Mozambique; later moved to Portugal
  • Francisco Conceiçao (born 2002), football player
  • Hugo Almeida (born 1984), football player
  • José Mourinho, football coach
  • João Cancelo, football player
  • João Félix, football player
  • João Moutinho, football player
  • Luís Figo (born 1972), football player
  • Luís Miguel Afonso Fernandes, football player
  • Maniche (born 1977), football player
  • Matheus Nunes (born 1998) football player
  • Nani, football player
  • Nuno Gomes, football player
  • Pauleta, football player
  • Paulo Ferreira, football player
  • Paulo Futre, former football player
  • Paulo Sousa, former football player
  • Pereira Da Silva, football player
  • Ricardo Carvalho, football player
  • Ricardo Pereira, football player
  • Ricardo Quaresma (born 1983), football player
  • Ricardo Sá Pinto, football player
  • Rúben Dias (born 1997) football player
  • Rui Costa (born 1972), football player
  • Simão Sabrosa (born 1979), football player
  • Vítor Baía (born 1969), football player

Others

  • António Jesus Correia (1924–2003)
  • António Livramento (1944–1999), hockey player
  • Rui Madeira, rally driver
  • Carlos Lopes (born 1947), marathon Olympic champion
  • Carlos Sousa, off-road driver, world champion in 2003
  • Fernanda Ribeiro (born 1969), 10,000m Olympic champion
  • Francis Obikwelu, Nigerian-born runner
  • Gustavo Ribeiro (born 2001), skateboarder
  • Joaquim Agostinho, cyclist
  • José Azevedo, cyclist
  • João Garcia, mountaineer
  • João Sousa, tennis player
  • Moises Henriques, Australian cricketer from Portugal
  • Pedro Lamy, former Formula One and DTM driver
  • Rosa Mota (born 1958), marathon Olympic champion
  • Rui Costa, cycling world champion
  • Telma Monteiro, four times judo silver medalist at world championships
  • Tiago Monteiro, former Champ Car and Formula One driver
  • Ticha Penicheiro, WNBA player
  • Vanessa Fernandes, triathlon world champion

Politicians

  • Afonso Costa (1871–1937), Prime Minister during the First Republic
  • Alberto João Jardim (born 1943), President of Regional Government of the Madeira Autonomous Region for 37 years
  • Álvaro Cunhal (1913–2005), former General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
  • Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister and President of the Republic
  • Anton de Vieira (1682–1745), governor of St Petersburg and Okhotsk
  • António de Oliveira Salazar (1889–1970), head of government and de facto leader of the Estado Novo dictatorial regime for 36 years
  • António Guterres, Prime Minister, Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and President of the Socialist International
  • António Vitorino, Minister, judge of the Constitutional Court, EU Commissioner and Director General of the International Organization for Migration
  • Bento Gonçalves (1902–1942), General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
  • Carlos Alberto da Mota Pinto (1936–1985), Prime Minister
  • Carlos Carvalhas (born 1941), General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
  • Diogo Freitas do Amaral, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations and Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança, claimant to the abolished throne of Portugal
  • Francisco Sá Carneiro (1934–1980), Prime Minister
  • Jaime Ornelas Camacho (1921–2016), first President of the Regional Government of Madeira
  • Jerónimo de Sousa (born 1947), General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party
  • Jorge Sampaio, President of the Republic and Mayor of Lisbon
  • José Manuel Barroso, Prime Minister and President of the European Commission
  • José Sócrates, Prime Minister
  • Manuel Pinho (born 1954), Minister of the Economy and Innovation
  • Marcelo Caetano (1906–1980), last head of government of the Estado Novo dictatorial regime, from 1968 to 1974
  • Mário Soares (1924–2017), Prime Minister and President of the Republic
  • Octávio Pato (1925–1999)
  • Pedro Santana Lopes, Prime Minister and Mayor of Lisbon
  • Teresa Heinz Kerry, philanthropist and wife of US Senator John Kerry
  • Vasco Gonçalves (1922–2005), Prime Minister
  • Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal (1699–1782), statesman

Historians

  • Diogo do Couto (1542–1616), historian of India and Sri Lanka
  • José Hermano Saraiva (1919–2012)
  • Rui Nepomuceno (1936-2024), lawyer and historian of Madeira

Businesspeople

  • Américo Amorim (1934–2017)
  • Belmiro de Azevedo (1938–2017)
  • Francisco Pinto Balsemão (1937–2025)
  • Joe Berardo (born 1944)
  • Salvador Caetano (1926–2011)
  • António Champalimaud (1918–2004)
  • Antonia Ferreira (1811–1896), winemaker

Other

  • Catarina de Albuquerque (born 1970), UN Special Rapporteur
  • Mariana Alcoforado (1624–1723), nun and writer
  • Rita Almeida (born 1974), World Bank economist
  • Jorge de Cabedo (1525–1604), jurist
  • Catarina Eufémia (1928–1954), assassinated rural worker
  • Abraham Aboab Falero, 17th century Jewish philanthropist
  • Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (1837–1880), 19th-century archbishop of the Portuguese colonial enclave Goa
  • Deu-la-Deu Martins 14th century hero
  • Fernando Pessa (1902–2002), journalist
  • Sara Sampaio (born 1991), model
  • Eliza Brown Newton Smart (1844–1930), missionary and reformer

See also

  • List of Portuguese monarchs
  • Presidents of Portugal
  • List of prime ministers of Portugal
  • List of mayors of Lisbon

References