Another of the great feeder clubs of world football, Sporting Lisbon have produced some of the finest talent seen in the game, as well as a number of other high-profile stars. Together with some of their current talent being eyed by bigger clubs, it makes for an incredibly strong-looking XI…
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GK: Rui Patricio
Still with the club, Rui Patricio may be the next target of bigger European sides after some superb form for the Portuguese giants.
DR: Joao Pereira
A key player for Sporting during his time with the club, Pereira has since moved to Valencia and then to the Bundesliga with Hannover 96.
DL: Jefferson
A Brazilian left-back still with the club, Jefferson has shown his ability and importance to the side in recent times.
DC: Mauricio
Another Brazilian star, Mauricio caught the eye with Sporting Lisbon and is now on loan at Serie A giants Lazio, in a move which could well become permanent.
DC: Marcos Rojo
A superb summer signing for Manchester United, Marcos Rojo has shone in the Premier League after first catching the eye with Sporting.
MC: William Carvalho
A top class young midfielder, William Carvalho is attracting plenty of interest after a couple of impressive seasons in the Sporting Lisbon midfield and for the Portuguese national team.
MC: Joao Moutinho
Currently with AS Monaco, Joao Moutinho is another big-name midfielder who is potentially world class on his day who left the club at a young age.
AMR: Ricardo Quaresma
Let go to Barcelona as a teenager, Ricardo Quaresma is undoubdtedly a freakish talent who never lived up to his potential, despite playing for the likes of Porto, Inter Milan and Chelsea – and who knows what he could’ve achieved if he’d stayed at the club longer?
AML: Nani
Back on loan at Sporting after seven years with Manchester United, Nani is another big talent the club lost just as he started to show some signs of top quality.
AMC: Luis Figo
Another superb player from Sporting’s history that the club let leave too early, Luis Figo went on to have a tremendous career with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
FC: Cristiano Ronaldo
Undoubtedly one of the finest players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo was snapped up at a young age by Manchester United after the gangly young winger tore them apart in a friendly with Sporting.
