Ricardo Carvalho’s best games

“WE HAD TO BEAT SPAIN TO QUALIFY AND WE DID OUR JOB. THE COUNTRY HAD WAITED A LONG TIME FOR A MOMENT LIKE THAT”

Porto 6 Braga 0 1996 Youth team match

“My career could have taken a really different path without this game. The president was watching and I scored a hat-trick. Not bad for a defender, eh? I was 17 and people from a second-tier side were there wanting to sign me on loan, but the president said that I was going nowhere, or out on loan to a first division outfit. Who knows what may have happened if I hadn’t played well.”

Spain 0 Portugal 1

June 20, 2004 European Championship

“This will always be one of my favourite football memories. It was my first ever Euros, playing on home soil, and was an unforgettable feeling. I also became an indisputable starter after that. We had to beat Spain to qualify from the group and did the job against our neighbours. The country had waited a long time for that.”

Chelsea 1 Tottenham 0

April 7, 2007 Premier League

“I was lucky enough to play well in the big matches during my time in England. The games against Manchester United might be the ones I played the best in, but I’m picking out this match against Spurs even though we couldn’t become champions that season. We closed the gap to United by beating our rivals 1-0 and I scored the winner. Happy days.”

Real Madrid 1 Osasuna 0

September 11, 2010 La Liga

“We have all got childhood dreams and playing for Real Madrid was one of mine – unfortunately it came true a little late in my career! [Laughs] I went there at 32 and was not in my best form – that was at Chelsea – but my home debut at the Bernabeu was one of the most special moments during my career. I managed to score against Osasuna and everything started off very well for me in Madrid.”