Hugo Porfírio works as an Uber driver in Lisbon

Hugo Porfírio drives Uber in Lisbon after his career transitioned across Sporting and Benfica

Former Portugal international Hugo Porfírio now works as a ride-hailing driver for Uber in Lisbon, according to social media videos shared by passengers in late September and early October 2026, as reported by theportugalpost.com. The 53-year-old former winger, who represented his country at Euro 1996 and played for both Sporting CP and SL Benfica, was recognized by customers who booked a routine ride in the Portuguese capital.

From Alvalade Youth Ranks to the English Premier League

Born in Lisbon on September 28, 1973, Porfírio spent nine seasons rising through the youth ranks at Sporting Clube de Portugal, as noted by theportugalpost.com. English manager Bobby Robson handed him his senior debut during the 1993/94 season, when a young José Mourinho served on the coaching staff. Porfírio scored his first senior goal in the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals against Trofense.

Following loan spells at Tirsense and União de Leiria, Porfírio transferred abroad to West Ham United in the English Premier League for the 1996/97 campaign. There, he shared the pitch with compatriot Paulo Futre, recording four goals and three assists across 27 appearances, according to abola.pt and theportugalpost.com. Sporting subsequently sold him to Spanish club Racing Santander.

Stints at Benfica and Final Playing Days Abroad

He managed only six appearances for Benfica’s first team before enduring a dip in form during a loan spell at English club Nottingham Forest. A subsequent loan to CS Marítimo provided regular playing time, but a return to Benfica failed to yield the expected output.

After two seasons with Benfica’s B team, Porfírio dropped out of professional football before briefly turning out for Clube Oriental de Lisboa. He finished his playing career during the 2007/08 season with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, according to abola.pt and theportugalpost.com.

Brief Coaching Return Followed by Ride-Hailing Work

Porfírio returned to football briefly after retirement, joining Sporting’s technical staff as an assistant coach under Ricardo Sá Pinto during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, working alongside Oceano in the club’s B team setup. With no active public social media profiles, his post-football life remained largely private until passenger accounts surfaced online, according to abola.pt.

Influencer André Ramalho and a companion recognized the former footballer after ordering an Uber ride in Lisbon, expressing their surprise in a video picked up by Notícias ao Minuto. We were going to walk because we were only going from Olivais to Chelas, which is a 10-minute walk, but we got a bit late, fell asleep, and had to call an Uber., explained one of the passengers in the video. This guy is totally taking advantage of us. What do you mean, nothing special? Well, he played in Euro 1996, played with Rui Costa, Luís Figo, Vítor Baía. He’s the coolest guy ever. Really great. He drove well… I don’t even know if football players are known for driving well., added the passenger, noting that at an international level he also represented the under-21 team in 10 matches, scoring two goals. The former player’s daughter subsequently confirmed his identity in a comment beneath the viral post, according to theportugalpost.com.