A powerful left-footed striker, Hugo Almeida has been a regular for Portugal over the past four years, appearing at UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Although his career has repeatedly been hampered by injuries, he remains a danger to defences and a reliable source of goals.

• Started out with FC Porto but struggled to make the grade at first and had loan spells at UD Leiria and Boavista FC before playing the role of 'super sub' in the club's 2005/06 domestic double triumph under Dutch coach Co Adriaanse.

• A star striker at youth level for Portugal, he played in three UEFA European Under-21 Championships (2004, 2006, 2007) as well as the 2004 Olympics in Athens, having already received his first senior cap in a February 2004 friendly against England.

• Opened his UEFA Champions League account with a stunning long-range goal for Porto against FC Internazionale Milano at San Siro in 2005 and would add six further goals in that competition for SV Werder Bremen over the next five seasons.

• Won the German Cup with Bremen in 2008/09 and also helped the club reach the UEFA Cup final but was suspended for the Istanbul showdown against FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

• Returned to Turkey midway through a productive 2010/11 season for Bremen when he signed for Beşiktaş JK; added the Turkish Cup to his roll of honour after a penalty shoot-out win in the final against İstanbul BB SK.

• Scored his tenth goal for Portugal in 7-0 rout of North Korea at the 2010 World Cup and increased his tally to 15 in a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier against Cyprus.

UEFA honours
UEFA Cup: runner-up 2009