The Portugal National Football Team vs Spain National Football Team Timeline is one of the oldest and most historically significant International rivalries in European football, known widely as the Iberian Derby.
The fixture dates back to December 19, 1921, when Portugal suffered a 3-1 defeat in Madrid in what was their very first international match as a nation.
Since that inaugural encounter, the two Iberian neighbours have met 41 times across all competitions and friendlies, with Spain holding a clear historical advantage on 17 wins to Portugal’s 6, alongside 18 draws.
The Portugal national football team vs Spain national football team timeline spans over a century of football and political history, at times reflecting the turbulent relationship between the two nations both on and off the pitch.
All-Time H2H Record (All Competitions, Including Friendlies)
| Stat | Spain | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Total Meetings | 41 | 41 |
| Wins | 17 | 6 |
| Draws | 18 | 18 |
| Win Percentage | ~41% | ~15% |
| First Meeting | December 19, 1921 | December 19, 1921 |
| Portugal’s First Win | 4-1 (1947) | N/A |
| Most Famous Meeting | 2018 World Cup (3-3) | 2018 World Cup (3-3) |
| Competitive Meetings | 12 | 12 |
All-Time Record in Competitive Matches Only
| Stat | Spain | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive Meetings | 12 | 12 |
| Wins | 3 | 2 |
| Draws | 7 | 7 |
| Goals Scored | 9 | 9 |
| Average Goals Per Game | 1.50 | 1.50 |
Record by Competition
| Competition | Spain Wins | Draws | Portugal Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Friendlies | 14 | 11 | 4 |
| FIFA World Cup | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| UEFA European Championship | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| UEFA Nations League | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Notable Meetings
| Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| December 1921 | Spain 3-1 Portugal | Friendly (Portugal’s debut) |
| 1947 | Portugal 4-1 Spain | Friendly (Portugal’s first win) |
| Euro 2004 Group Stage | Portugal 1-0 Spain | UEFA European Championship |
| October 2010 | Portugal 4-0 Spain | Friendly |
| June 2018 | Portugal 3-3 Spain | FIFA World Cup Group B |
| November 2022 | Spain 1-0 Portugal | UEFA Nations League |
| June 2025 | Portugal 2-2 Spain | UEFA Nations League Final |
Recent Form (Last 10 Meetings)
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 3 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| Portugal | 2 | 5 | 3 | 9 |
The 2018 FIFA World Cup clash in Sochi stands as the most memorable encounter in the fixture’s modern era.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick including a stunning late free kick to cancel out Diego Costa’s double and a Felipe goal, with the 3-3 draw captivating a global audience.
The June 2025 UEFA Nations League final saw Portugal win on penalties after a 2-2 draw that included Ronaldo’s crucial second-half equaliser.
Alvaro Morata’s missed penalty proved decisive, handing Portugal their second Nations League crown and producing a dramatic close to a memorable chapter of the Portugal national football team vs Spain national football team timeline.
The extraordinary volume of draws in competitive fixtures, seven from twelve meetings, reflects how evenly matched these sides have been across the modern era despite Spain’s dominance in the longer historical record.