Portugal’s U17 World Champions Honoured with Order of Merit at Belém Palace

Teenagers hoisting a world trophy rarely expect a return visit to Lisbon’s Palácio de Belém. Yet Portugal’s under-17 footballers did just that this week, exchanging shin-guards for cufflinks as they became the youngest citizens ever to receive the national Order of Merit. The President’s gesture is more than a photo opportunity; it signals a growing belief that the 2025 champions might redefine the future of Portuguese football.

Quick take

• Historic milestone: first youth squad in Portugal to collect both the European and World U17 titles in the same year.

• State recognition: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa pinned the Medal of the Order of Merit on each player; coach Bino Maçães advanced to the rank of Commander.

• Record age: recipients average 17 years and 4 months, the youngest ever honoured by this order.

• Next steps: federation plans a tailored development track to keep the core group together through U19 Euro 2027.

From locker room to presidential palace

Ceremonial protocol replaced match-day playlists as the squad walked the red carpet across the courtyard of Belém. Inside, the President reminded the teenagers that “they had carried Portugal’s flag farther than any youth side before them.” Family members watched from the gilded balconies while the national anthem—played twice in their honour over the past year—rang out once again.

Generation of firsts

The class of 2025 posted a near-flawless record: 22 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats across qualifying, the European finals in Albania, and November’s FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. Forward Rodrigo Mora topped the continental scoring chart, but it was reserve goalkeeper Gabriel Viana’s penalty heroics against Brazil that lodged the team in Portuguese sporting lore. Analysts at the FPF point out that no U17 side had previously beaten France, Brazil and Austria in a single tournament cycle.

What the Order of Merit actually means

Although the Order of Merit is traditionally reserved for acts of civic selflessness, Portuguese presidents have occasionally used it to spotlight achievements that “uplift the nation’s morale.” The last football collective to earn the distinction was the senior squad after Euro 2016. Youth outfits have been rarer: the U19 Europeans of 2018 and, now, this U17 cohort. The order comes in five degrees; players receive the entry-level Medal, while Maçães joins the company of Comendadores like Luís Figo and Rosa Mota.

Reactions from inside the game

Bino Maçães framed the honour as a “contract with responsibility,” hinting that several club academies abroad have already inquired about his players. Pedro Proença, president of the federation, promised a protective net: “We cannot afford to let this talent scatter without guidance.” Sports economist Joana Relvas adds that each athlete’s market value jumped by an estimated €1.2 M overnight, a ripple effect that may benefit domestic clubs through future solidarity payments.

The road ahead

Portugal’s youth department will reconvene the squad in March for an U18 friendly tournament in Aveiro, seen as a rehearsal for the 2027 U19 Euros. Scouts from Benfica, Sporting and Porto—clubs that already house ten of the medal-winners—want guarantees the youngsters will clock senior minutes before turning 20. Meanwhile, the President’s office hinted that victory parades could become an annual tradition: “If they keep winning, we’ll keep opening the palace gates,” a staffer joked, half-serious.

With a presidential medal now sharing space with their World Cup winner’s rings, Portugal’s teenage prodigies march into 2026 shouldering a unique blend of glory and expectation. Their next kick of a ball will be weighed against the silvery glow of national honours—but if recent history is a guide, they seem comfortable carrying extra metal.