A right-sided midfielder who has overcome rejection by his first club, FC Porto, to become a key figure in Ligue 1 for Toulouse FC, Paulo Machado has made a handful of brief appearances for Portugal in friendly internationals under Paulo Bento but has yet to make his competitive debut.

• Joined Porto as a schoolboy and made his senior debut, under coach José Mourinho, in the 2003/04 season.

• Helped Portugal win the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, on home soil, in 2003, defeating Spain 2-1 in the final; also played at 2007 U21 European finals in the Netherlands.

• Tied himself contractually to Porto in summer 2005 but spent the next three seasons elsewhere gaining Portuguese top-flight experience, with loan spells at CF Estrela da Amadora, UD Leiria and Leixões SC.

• Still unable to command a place at Porto, he spent the 2008/09 season on loan to French club AS Saint-Étienne and made such a strong impact in Ligue 1, making 35 appearances and scoring three goals, that he was subsequently signed permanently by Toulouse.

• Made 65 Ligue 1 appearances in first two seasons at Toulouse, scoring nine goals, and earning promotion to the Portuguese national team, for whom he made four substitute appearances in friendlies during the 2010/11 season; scored in each of Toulouse's first two league games in 2011/12.

UEFA honours
UEFA European Under-17 Championship: winner 2003