He began his career at Sporting CP and went on to play for Barcelona, Inter Milan, Porto (twice),[3] Chelsea, Beşiktaş (twice), Al-Ahli Dubai, Kasımpaşa and Vitória de Guimarães.

Regarded as a mercurial talent, his tricks, including the rabona and trivela (a bending shot with the outside of his right foot) made him a popular figure among fans around the world.

[4][5] A Portugal international for 15 years, Quaresma won 80 caps and played at three European Championships, including the victorious Euro 2016, and the 2018 World Cup.

On 1 September 2008, Quaresma signed for Italian champions Inter Milan in a cash/player exchange fee of €18.6 million, with youngster Pelé joining Porto.

[18] However, he found opportunities in the starting XI limited, as coach José Mourinho stated: "He is a great talent, but the joy I have at seeing the way Ibra works for and with the team I do not yet have with Quaresma.

"[24] Having returned to Inter[25] despite attempts made by the club to offload him,[26] Quaresma inherited the number 7 shirt following the retirement of his compatriot Luís Figo.

[34] Following the 3–1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Europa League's round of 16 the following 8 March, he had an altercation with Carlos Carvalhal in the dressing room at half-time after the manager replaced him with İsmail Köybaşı, reportedly beginning to throw water bottles before saying, "I brought you here, you just think of yourself.

[37] He scored two league goals[38] from ten games in his only season, adding another in his sole appearance in a victorious campaign in the UAE President's Cup.

[44] On 15 April 2015, Quaresma scored twice in the first ten minutes, starting with a penalty, as Porto defeated Bayern Munich 3–1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League's quarter-final tie.

[59] He was selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, and he featured in the vital 2–0 victory over Slovakia,[60] but was omitted by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari from the final squad.

[64] Picked for the finals in Austria and Switzerland, he replaced Simão Sabrosa for the last ten minutes of the second group match against the Czech Republic, scoring in stoppage time to contribute to a 3–1 win.

[66] In August 2010, after nearly two years of absence, Quaresma was called up for two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Cyprus and Norway to be held the next month, replacing the injured Cristiano Ronaldo.

[68] After failing to receive any playing time at the Euro 2012 tournament, and being involved in a training incident with teammate Miguel Lopes,[69] Quaresma was named in Portugal's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 World Cup, but did not make the final cut.

[73] In the final against hosts France on 10 July, he came off the bench for Ronaldo, who was forced off in the opening 25 minutes due to injury; the match ended in a 1–0 extra-time victory to Portugal, which saw the country win its first ever international title.

[77] In Portugal's third group match, against Iran, he scored a goal-of-the-tournament contender, playing a one-two with Adrien Silva on the right side of the field before striking the ball with the outside of his right foot—a trademark trivela—into the top left corner of the goal in a 1–1 draw that took his team into the last 16.

[78][79] Once described as "a mercurial, enigmatic talent",[80] Quaresma was known for his flair and was popular for incorporating a repertoire of tricks into his style of play, including the rabona and trivela, the latter a bending shot with the outside of his right foot.

[81] A winger who could play on either flank, his crossing ability, creativity, dribbling skills, technique and poise on the ball, combined with his qualities of speed and finesse caused a regular problem for opposing defences, and also allowed him to create space for his teammates.

The veteran Quaresma is a more mature player these days, creative but reliable, unpredictable but disciplined, a man who will never undo the past but is at least showing signs of learning.

[103] A convert to Catholicism, he was baptised in July 2016 together with his sons in Pêro Pinheiro, Sintra,[103] with teammates Eliseu and Carlos Martins being present at the event.