Hey there, football fans! Imagine two neighbors who’ve been trash-talking each other over the backyard fence for over a century, but instead of words, they settle it with boots on a pitch. That’s the vibe between portugal national football team vs spain national football team stats. These Iberian powerhouses share a border, a love for fado and flamenco, and a fierce rivalry that’s produced some of the most nail-biting matches in soccer history. Whether you’re a die-hard Seleção supporter dreaming of Ronaldo magic or a La Roja loyalist cheering for tiki-taka wizardry, this article dives deep into their head-to-head stats. We’ll keep it simple, fun, and easy to follow—no jargon overload here. Grab a pastel de nata or some jamón, and let’s kick off!
The Roots of the portugal national football team vs spain national football team stats Rivalry: A Quick History Lesson
Picture this: It’s December 18, 1921, in Madrid. Portugal laces up for their very first international match… against Spain. The result? A 3-1 loss for the Portuguese newcomers. Ouch! That set the tone for a rivalry that’s spanned more than 100 years and 40 meetings. These aren’t just games; they’re cultural clashes wrapped in red and green jerseys.
Fast-forward to modern times, and the stakes have skyrocketed. From heartbreaking penalty shootouts to Ronaldo’s hat-tricks, every clash feels like a mini-final. Spain, with their golden era of three straight major tournament wins (Euro 2008, 2012, and 2010 World Cup), often holds the edge. But Portugal? They’ve got grit, a Euro 2016 trophy, and two UEFA Nations League titles (2019 and the fresh-off-the-press 2025 win). It’s like the cool, technical older brother (Spain) versus the scrappy, star-powered younger sibling (Portugal). And the stats? They tell a story of draws, drama, and just enough dominance to keep fans arguing at family dinners.
Head-to-Head Stats: Who Really Has the Upper Hand?
Alright, let’s get to the numbers. As of October 2025, Portugal and Spain have locked horns 40 times since that 1921 debut. Spain edges it with 18 wins to Portugal’s 6, and a whopping 16 draws—because nothing says “Iberian Derby” like a stalemate that leaves everyone yelling at the TV. That’s a total of 126 goals shared between them, averaging about 3.15 per game. Not bad for matches that often feel like chess with cleats.
Spain’s overall winning percentage sits at around 45%, while Portugal’s is a gritty 15%. But here’s the twist: In recent years, Portugal has turned the tide, especially in big tournaments. They’ve won 4 of the last 10 meetings, including that epic 2025 Nations League final. Draws are the great equalizer here—16 of them mean neither side can claim total bragging rights. And goals? Spain has netted 79 (about 1.98 per game), while Portugal has 47 (1.18 per game). It’s a tale of Spanish flair overwhelming Portuguese resilience, but don’t count out the underdogs.
For a quick visual, check out this table of their all-time head-to-head record:
| Category | Portugal Wins | Draws | Spain Wins | Total Goals (POR/ESP) | Avg. Goals/Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall (40 Matches) | 6 | 16 | 18 | 47 / 79 | 3.15 |
| Home for Portugal | 3 | 8 | 7 | 25 / 35 | 2.95 |
| Away for Portugal | 3 | 8 | 11 | 22 / 44 | 3.30 |
| Friendlies | 2 | 10 | 8 | 20 / 35 | 1.68 |
| Competitions | 4 | 6 | 10 | 27 / 44 | 3.56 |
(Data compiled from historical records up to October 2025.) See? It’s balanced enough to fuel endless pub debates.
Breaking Down the Matches: From Heartbreak to Heroics
No rivalry is complete without iconic clashes. Let’s stroll through some highlights (and lowlights) that shaped the stats.
Start with the classics: In the 1950 World Cup qualifiers, Spain hammered Portugal 5-1 at home, then drew 2-2 away—classic early dominance. Fast-forward to Euro 1984, where Spain won 1-0 in the group stage, but Portugal got revenge in qualifiers with a 1-0 upset.
The 21st century? Pure drama. Remember the 2012 Euro semi-final? A 0-0 snoozer went to penalties, and Spain triumphed 4-2 after Bruno Alves missed. Xabi Alonso’s saved spot-kick haunted Portuguese dreams, but it showed their fight—Ronaldo had two free-kicks denied in stoppage time.
Then came 2018 World Cup Group B: Ronaldo’s hat-trick salvaged a 3-3 thriller against Spain’s Diego Costa double and a Nacho screamer. That game alone accounts for 6 of Portugal’s 47 total goals against La Roja—talk about carrying the team!
More recently, the UEFA Nations League has been their battleground. In 2022, Spain won 1-0 and drew 1-1 in the group stage. But in the 2025 final at Munich’s Allianz Arena? Oh man. Spain led 2-1 at halftime (goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal), but Ronaldo equalized in the 52nd minute for his 138th international strike. Extra time fizzled 0-0, and penalties sealed Portugal’s 5-3 win—Álvaro Morata’s miss was the dagger. Nuno Mendes was a beast, scoring the equalizer earlier too. That victory made Portugal the first two-time Nations League champs.
World Cup qualifiers? They’ve met four times, with Spain unbeaten: two wins and two draws. The 2010 playoff was tense—a 1-0 Spain win away, then 1-1 home, sending La Roja to South Africa. No direct clashes in 2026 qualifiers yet, but with both topping their groups (Portugal in F, Spain in E), playoffs could reignite the fire.
These matches aren’t just stats—they’re stories. Portugal’s wins often come from late magic (like Ronaldo’s free-kicks), while Spain’s are built on possession mastery (averaging 60%+ in recent derbies).
Team Stats: Goals, Defense, and the Big Picture
To understand the rivalry, you gotta zoom out to each team’s overall prowess. Portugal, under Roberto Martínez, is a counter-attacking machine powered by stars. They’ve played 220 internationals, winning 100 (45.5% win rate), with 138 goals scored and 84 conceded—averaging 2.6 goals per game lately. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they’ve banged in 26 goals in 10 games while conceding just 4, thanks to a rock-solid Rúben Dias and Diogo Costa in goal.
Spain? They’re the kings of control. With 227 matches, 82 wins (36%), they’ve scored 162 and conceded 85—focusing on clean sheets (they’ve kept 0 conceded in 4 straight Euro qualifiers). In Nations League 2025, they netted 25 goals but leaked 15, showing vulnerability against pacey attacks like Portugal’s. Their 2026 qualifiers? 25 goals in 10, 3 conceded—unbeaten and ruthless.
Key stat: Portugal scores more on the break (1.82 xG per game), while Spain dominates possession (2.03 xG). Against each other, though, it’s tighter—Portugal’s 1.18 goals/game vs. Spain drops, highlighting the mutual respect (or fear?).
Top Scorers: The Heroes Who Light Up the Derby
No article on this rivalry skips the goal machines. For Portugal, it’s all Ronaldo: 3 goals against Spain (that 2018 hat-trick), part of his 138 total international strikes. Nuno Gomes has 2, and recent adds like Nuno Mendes (1 in 2025 final) show depth.
Spain’s hit list? David Villa (2), Álvaro Morata (2), and Diego Costa (2). But in the 2025 final, Mikel Oyarzabal and Nico Williams stole the show before penalties dashed dreams. Overall, Spain’s scorers thrive in volume—79 goals mean spread-out threats like Pedri’s assists (key in that 2025 through-ball).
Fun fact: Ronaldo’s 41 World Cup qualifier goals (including 2 vs. Hungary in October 2025) broke records, but against Spain? He’s 3-3 personally. These guys aren’t just players; they’re legends etched in rivalry lore.
Recent Form: Nations League Glory and Qualifier Fire
The last five years? Portugal’s on fire. Their 2025 Nations League run: Semis win over Germany (2-1, Ronaldo brace), then that penalty epic vs. Spain. In qualifiers, a 2-2 draw with Hungary (Ronaldo double) kept them top of Group F with 10 points from 4, chasing England’s coattails.
Spain? They defended their Euro 2024 crown vibes into Nations League semis (beating France 5-4? Wait, no—actually lost the final but topped groups with 25 goals). Qualifiers: Perfect in Group E, 2-0 over Georgia, 4-0 Bulgaria routs—12 goal difference lead over Turkey. Both are World Cup-bound, but a playoff rematch? Fingers crossed.
Why This Rivalry Matters: More Than Just Stats
Beyond the numbers, this is football at its emotional best. Portugal reps the underdog spirit—Eusébio’s 1966 heroics to Ronaldo’s longevity. Spain? Precision and pride, from Camacho’s tackles to Yamal’s teenage brilliance. Shared history (that 1762 invasion? Yikes) adds spice, but so does geography—fans cross borders for games.
For young fans: It’s about dreams. A kid in Lisbon or Lisbon might idolize Fernandes’ vision or Yamal’s dribbles. Stats show evolution: Portugal’s from 6% win rate pre-2000 to 40% now; Spain’s possession game peaked but adapts.
Wrapping It Up: Who’s Next?
So, Portugal 6 wins, Spain 18, but the heart says it’s even. With 2026 World Cup qualifiers heating up (Portugal hosts Ireland November 13; Spain at Georgia), and potential Nations League rematches, expect more fireworks. Will Ronaldo bow out with a derby stunner? Can Spain’s young guns reclaim glory?
