Miguel Veloso

He was equally impressive in his debut in the UEFA Champions League, a 1–0 home win against Inter Milan where he stopped Patrick Vieira and Luís Figo from playing effectively, earning Player of the match accolades in the process.

[27][28] On 29 June 2020, with his first season still ongoing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Veloso agreed to a deal for a second campaign at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi,[29] in which he added two more goals and renewed again.

[32] Veloso acted as captain for Portugal at the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, helping the nation to emerge victorious on home soil after defeating Spain 2–1 in an Iberian final played in Viseu.

On 14 August 2007, following impressive performances for the under-21s in the 2007 UEFA European Championship in June (the skipper scored twice in three games, albeit in a group stage exit),[35] Veloso was called up to the full side for the first time, for a Euro 2008 qualifier against Armenia,[36] but only made his international debut against Azerbaijan on 13 October.

[38] Veloso was recalled by coach Carlos Queiroz after a long spell out of the squad, for vital 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches with Denmark and Hungary in September 2009,[39] but did not leave the bench on either occasion;[40][41] he did take the field when they met the latter again the following month, winning 3–0.

[43] He was chosen for the finals in South Africa where he made two brief substitute appearances in the group stage, assisting the concluder by Tiago in a 7–0 rout of North Korea.

[45] He played every minute of their finals campaign in Poland and Ukraine, before being substituted at half-time in extra time of an eventual penalty shootout loss to Spain in the semi-finals.

[46] At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Veloso was withdrawn at the interval for defender Ricardo Costa in a 4–0 opening defeat to eventual champions Germany.

[47] In the final group game against Ghana, he played at left-back due to Fábio Coentrão's injury;[48][49] a 2–1 win was not enough to beat the United States' goal difference and advance to the last 16.

Veloso in action against Russia in 2012
Veloso at Euro 2012
Veloso in action in 2014–15, a season in which Dynamo won the league and cup double