Former Portugal star who played alongside Luis Figo and Rui Costa at Euro 1996 shockingly found driving Uber in Lisbon

Hugo Porfírio once shared dressing rooms with some of Portugal's most recognisable footballers, played in the Premier League and La Liga, and appeared for his country at a major tournament. More than two decades after those playing days came to an end, his life looks very different, with the former Sporting and Benfica midfielder now finding himself behind the wheel of an Uber in Lisbon, where two passengers recently realised who had picked them up.Porfírio built his career alongside Portugal's biggest namesPorfírio came through Sporting Lisbon's academy before making his senior debut during the 1992/93 season, when Bobby Robson gave him his first-team opportunity and he made two appearances.He played 13 matches and scored once during the following season before moving through loan spells at Tirsense and União de Leiria, experiences that eventually helped lead him towards a career outside Portugal.His next major move took him to West Ham, where he made 27 appearances, scored four goals and provided three assists while sharing the pitch with Portuguese great Paulo Futre.Porfírio later moved to Spain with Racing Santander, producing one of the more productive spells of his career with 23 appearances, two goals and three assists during the 1997/98 campaign.That form led to a move to Benfica in 1998/99, although his time at the Luz was interrupted by a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, where he played nine matches, scored once and contributed two assists.He returned to Benfica for the 1999/00 season and made six appearances, scoring once and providing two assists before moving to Marítimo on loan during the following campaign.At Marítimo, Porfírio featured 21 times, scored twice and supplied one assist before returning to Benfica for the 2001/02 season, when he made another six appearances.He subsequently played for Benfica B during the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons before moving to Oriental in 2006/07, eventually ending his playing career at Al-Nassr in 2007/08, the Saudi club where Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix now also play.He also played for Portugal alongside Rui Costa and Luis FigoPorfírio's club career was accompanied by an international career that reached a level most professional footballers never experience.He represented Portugal three times at senior level, including an appearance at Euro 1996, while also making 10 appearances for the Portuguese under-21 side and scoring two goals.His senior international involvement placed him in the same dressing room as players including Rui Costa, Luís Figo and Vítor Baía, names who became central figures in one of the strongest generations of Portuguese football.Although Porfírio never accumulated the international appearances associated with those players, being part of that Portugal squad and appearing at a major European Championship remained one of the defining achievements of his playing career.Football did remain part of his life after retirement, although only briefly and in a very different capacity from his time as a player.He returned to Sporting during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, joining the coaching staff first under Ricardo Sá Pinto and later working with Oceano, including involvement with the club's B team.That period represented his final significant connection with professional football before his life moved in another direction.Now, at 53, Porfírio is driving an UberAt 53, Porfírio is now working as an Uber driver, according to Portuguese media reports, a reality that came to wider attention after two passengers unexpectedly recognised him during a routine journey.According to A Bola, the former Portugal international was recognised at the wheel by influencer André Ramalho and a friend, who had turned to Uber after running late for what should have been a short walk between Olivais and Chelas.“We were walking because we were only going from Olivais to Chelas, which is a 10-minute walk, but we were a bit late, fell asleep, and had to call an Uber,” Ramalho said in a video.The passengers initially appeared to have expected an ordinary ride before realising that the driver had once played alongside some of Portugal's most famous footballers.“This guy is totally taking us for granted. What do you mean, nothing special? He played in Euro 1996, played with Rui Costa, Luís Figo, Vítor Baía. He's the coolest guy ever. Really cool. He drove well... I don't even know if football players are known for driving well,” Ramalho added.Porfírio maintains a private social media profile and has largely stayed away from public attention since leaving professional football, meaning the unexpected Uber encounter has offered one of the few glimpses into his life in recent years.The contrast with his playing career is striking, but the details of that career have not disappeared, with a Sporting academy education, spells at Benfica and West Ham, European football, a period in Saudi Arabia and three Portugal appearances forming the background to the man now taking passengers across Lisbon.For the two passengers who opened an Uber booking expecting a short ride across the city, however, the driver turned out to be someone whose football career belonged to a very different part of his life.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. 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