Ricardo Quaresma
Portuguese professional footballer, Ricardo Quaresma is playing as a winger for Turkish club Besiktas and the Portugal national team. He started his football career at Sporting CP followed by Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Besiktas and Al-Ahli Dubai. He is known for his repertoire of tricks into his playing style including trivela and rabona. Out of his 564 matches, he scored 99 goals. Quaresma has been enlisted in the 35 man squad for Portugal’s preliminary team to compete in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Early Life And Career Of Ricardo Quaresma
Ricardo Quaresma was born Ricardo Andrade Quaresma Bernardo on September 26, 1983, in Lisbon, Portugal. He holds Portugees nationality and belongs to the Caucasian ethnicity.
Quaresma started his football career joining the Lisbon based sports club, Sporting CP. He debuted during 2000–01 season for the reserve team of Sporting CP, B squad and played 15 games. Then he promoted to the senior squad where he played total 28 games and scored 3 goals.
The following season; the 2002-03 season was poor for the team, but Quaresma played well and finished third in the league which started speculation of his movement to next club.
Ricardo Quaresma's Professional Career
Ricardo Quaresma was sold to Barcelona in 2003 for $7 million (€6 million) fees and loan of Fábio Rochemback. He made his season debut for the team in 2003-04 La Liga. Due to his right foot injury, he missed the 2004 UEFA Under-21 Championship. He refused to play for the Barca during the UEFA Euro 2004 as long as Frank Rijkaard was in charge.
In 2004, Quaresma signed a four-year contract with Porto at $17.72 million (€15 million) fee along with his playing rights of $7 million (€6 million). He scored one goal for Porto during his debut game in the 2004 UEFA Super Cup.
He scored 5 goals in 32 league matches and contributed in Porto's 8-7 win against Once Caldas in 2004 Intercontinental Cup. During his first year with the team, he was highly criticized for being selfish and frequently trying to dribble past defenders than making a simple pa s s.
Quaresma signed a two-year contract with Italian champions Inter Milan in September 2008 in cash as well as player exchange fee of $21.97 million (€18.6 million) with young Portuguese midfielder Pelé. He made his debut for the club in a friendly match against Locarno. His time with the club wasn't considered a success, and he was given the Bidone d'Or award for the worst footballer in Serie A for 2008.
On February 2009, Quaresma signed a loan contract with Premier League club, Chelsea during the transfer deadline day until the end of the season. He played against Hull City during his debut game for Chelsea. His last appearance for the club was on March 21 against Tottenham Hotspur. Later, Quaresma made his comeback in Inter Milan and played his first game of the new season on 23 August against Bari.
He joined Besiktas on June 13, 2010, for $8.5 million (€7.3 million) fees for a three-year contract which entitled him to $4.1 million (€3.5 million) in the first season and $4.4 million (€3.75 million) for next two seasons. He scored his first goal for Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League against Viktoria Plzen.
During the first leg of the 2011–12 Europa League on March 8, 2012, Quaresma had a dispute with manager Carlos Carvalhal in the dressing room for substituting him for Ismail Köybasi. He threw a water bottle at Carvalhal and bluffed him because of which he was suspended by the club. He was released six months before by the club on December 20, 2012, paying out the remaining of his contract of $1.7 million (€1.48 million).
On January 8, 2013, Quaresma joined Dubai-based club Al-Ahli in the UAE Pro League. He scored 2 goals in his 10 appearances and was released by the club in May 2013. The following year, he made his comeback to Porto and was again given his former number 7 jersey shirt.
On May 2015, he scored 2 goals for Porto in 3-1 win match against Bayern Munich in the first leg of Champions League quarter-final. He made his return to Besiktas in July 2015, and the team retained their title in his second season.
Ricardo Quaresma's International Career
On June 2003, Ricardo Quaresma made his international debut for the Portugal national team in a friendly against Bolivia. Due to his poor performance at the Barcelona prevented him from taking part in the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, 2004 Olympics and the Euro 2004. But he got a chance to play in the 2006 World Cup qualification campaign for Portugal but failed to make at the final selection of 2006 World Cup.
Later, Quaresma was called up for a friendly match against Brazil on 2-0 win. On March 2007, he scored his first goal for Portugal's 4–0 win in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Belgium. He was one of the 23-man squad for Portugal in Euro 2008.
He wasn't called up for Portugal's 2010 World Cup but was called up for Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Cyprus and Norway and in one of the matches he replaced injured Cristiano Ronaldo.
At first, he was included in Portugal's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 World Cup but was later excluded from the final 23-man squad. He played in Euro 2016. In 2017, he was selected for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. Fortunately, he has been enlisted in Portugal’s preliminary 35 man team for the 2018 World Cup which will be held in Russia.
Ricardo Quaresma's Net Worth
Ricardo Quaresma is one of the highest paid Portuguese footballers with an estimated net worth of $40 million. His current market value is $3 million (£2.25m). In 2012, his annual salary was $4.42 million (€3.75 million).
Earning list of Ricardo Quaresma over the years,
- 2003- $8,120,000
- 2004- $7,660,000
- 2008- $50,002,000
- 2010- $9,320,000
- 2015- $5,130,000
- 2017- $1,530,000
Quaresma also earns a good sum from his endorsement and brand deals. He owns a luxurious house in his hometown, Lisbon, Portugal which cost millions of dollars.
Ricardo Quaresma's Personal Life
Ricardo Quaresma is married to his longtime girlfriend, Daphne Quaresma. The duo tied the knot at a private ceremony in Portugal. They first met with the help of a mutual friend and eventually fell in love. The couple is blessed with two children, Ricardo Quaresma and Kauana Quaresma
Previously, Quaresma had an affair with a lady whose information has not been disclosed yet. They shared a daughter, Aariana Quaresma.
Quaresma is also known for his tattoos. In 2016, he inked two teardrops tattoo in his face. Later he had Psalm 91:4 inked on the back of his head.
In July he converted to Catholicism and was baptized along with his two sons in Pêro Pinheiro, Sintra.
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