Sporting Clube de Portugal, also called Sporting CP, is a Portuguese football club founded on July 1, 1906 in Lisbon. Sporting is one of Portugal's 'big three' along with rivals Benfica Lisbon and FC Porto. A founding member of the National League in 1934, he never left the first division. The club's players play in green and white and are nicknamed the Leões (lions).
GP | GF | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Sporting | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
PSG | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
CSKA | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Sporting has a highly regarded youth academy known as Alcochete, a town near Lisbon, and is one of the most advanced football academies in Europe. It features state-of-the-art facilities, including several football pitches, a gymnasium, a medical centre, and a dormitory for the academy's young players. The academy's focus is on developing young players who have the technical ability, tactical awareness, and mental strength to succeed at the highest level of the game.
Some notable players to have come through the Sporting academy include Cristiano Ronaldo, Luís Figo, and Nani. Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best footballers of all time and has won numerous titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, winning numerous domestic and international titles, 5 Ballon d'Or, and breaking numerous records along the way. Figo is a former Portuguese international midfielder, and also a Ballon d'Or winner, who has played for top clubs in Spain and Italy, while Nani is a former Manchester United winger who has played for clubs in Portugal, Spain, Italy, the US and Australia. The Sporting academy continues to produce talented players who are making a name for themselves in Portuguese and European football.