I’m going to stick with the team of the century chosen by the Portuguese people in 2015 in a poll created by the national football association.

I played with Manuel Bento and Vítor Damas in the national team, and now we have Rui Patrício, a European champion, but my keeper is Vítor Baía. I saw him when he first started to train with Porto’s squad, and I later played with him in the national team. He was good at every aspect: one to one, high balls or playing the game with his feet. He conveyed enormous serenity.

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Germano had already retired when I was born but I later saw 1966 World Cup games and he was the leader of that defence – and crucial in that win against Pelé´s Brazil. Humberto Coelho was pure and had simple elegance as a defender. He was also a good goalscorer. He was at the heart of an important era for both Portugal and Benfica.

Fernando Couto played at big clubs such as Porto, Lazio, Parma and Barcelona. An old-fashioned defender, tough, but also with technical quality. He was very strong in the air and difficult to overcome. A top defender. Ricardo Carvalho had excellent seasons with Porto, and later proved his value for Chelsea too. For a few years, he was the world’s best defender.

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Mario Coluna was the leader of 1966 national team and twice a European champion with Benfica. What an engine! Even today, any youngster who watches those games will be impressed with him. Not only in ball recovery, but also building attacks. He is my pick as the holding midfielder.

For Luís Figo it is hard to find words. We are talking about a Ballon d’Or winner. He was unique, both at Barcelona and Real Madrid. Rui Costa was a Prince. He must be up there with the best. I played with him at Benfica and with Portugal and it was wonderful to see him in action. A true maestro! The kind of player you don’t mind paying to see. He is practically a god in Florence, and after representing Fiorentina he was European champion with Milan.

For Cristiano Ronaldo what more is there to say? He never stops surprising us, even now at 33 years old. Messi’s goal record this season seemed unattainable some months ago, but now Cristiano is almost there. Only a player from another galaxy could do this.

And for me it’s difficult to compare Ronaldo and Eusébio, because The King will always be The King. It’s hard to say who is the all-time’s best player. Eusébio was everything: the country’s pride, the ambassador and the flag. And he still is, although now we have Cristiano.

And what can I say about myself? I opened doors. Portuguese players were reputed not to adapt abroad. Practically nobody had triumphed outside before, and I opened doors. The compatriots who came after me didn’t suffer what I suffered. Only two foreign players could sign in those days, and some clubs even used to make psychological tests to the players. I was able to overcome this barrier.