Ex-West Ham winger Hugo Porfirio recognised as Uber driver in Lisbon
Former Portugal winger Porfirio has been recognised working as an Uber driver in Lisbon, more than two decades after appearances for West Ham United, Benfica and Portugal’s senior national team.
The 53-year-old was identified by passengers during a short trip from Olivais to Chelas. The encounter spread widely online after Andre Ramalho posted video from the journey, bringing renewed attention to a player who has largely remained outside the public spotlight since leaving football.
Ramalho said he and a companion had initially planned to walk the route, which takes around 10 minutes, but ordered a car after oversleeping and running late. They soon realised the driver had played at Euro 1996 alongside figures including Rui Costa, Luis Figo and Vitor Baia.
In the video, Ramalho expressed his surprise that Porfirio appeared to treat the situation as ordinary, describing the former international as “the coolest guy ever” and adding that he had driven them well.
A career across Portugal, England and Spain
Porfirio began his senior career at Sporting CP, where he was handed his first-team debut by Sir Bobby Robson. The winger later joined West Ham and made 27 appearances during the 1996-97 Premier League season.
He also played in Spain for Racing Santander before moving to Benfica. Later in his career, Porfirio had a loan spell with Nottingham Forest and went on to represent Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
At international level, he won three Portugal caps and was part of the squad during the Euro 1996 period, when Portugal’s side included several of the country’s leading players of that generation.
Life after football
Porfirio’s last known professional role in the game came more than 10 years ago, when he worked on Sporting CP B’s coaching staff. His appearance as a driver in Lisbon underlines how far he has stepped away from the public football circuit since then.
The former winger’s low-profile routine has nevertheless prompted a wave of reaction in Portugal, where supporters have recalled a career that took him from Sporting and Benfica to the Premier League, La Liga and the Saudi Pro League.
