Born in Lisbon, Porfírio graduated from Sporting CP's prolific youth academy, joining the professionals for the 1992–93 season alongside Emílio Peixe.
After some appearances as a substitute, he had loan spells with fellow Primeira Liga clubs Tirsense[1] and União de Leiria.
Porfírio signed with Sporting neighbours Benfica for 1998–99, being loaned in the January transfer window to Nottingham Forest, where he appeared sparingly and scored once, against Sheffield Wednesday.
[12] Subsequently, Porfírio had short spells, playing with modest Portuguese sides (1º Dezembro and Oriental) and retiring in 2008 after a season in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr.
After making his debut on 29 May 1996 in a 1–0 defeat of Ireland in Dublin, he made the nation's squad of 22 for UEFA Euro 1996, playing 15 minutes in the 1–0 group stage win against Turkey.