Portugal Rugby Star Manuel Vareiro Rises After Social Media Hate

Twenty-one-year-old Manuel Vareiro just helped Portugal win its first-ever Rugby Europe Championship, but a year ago, he was reading harsh criticism about himself online and nursing an injury.

The young rugby player's journey shows how quickly things can turn around when you refuse to give up. After disappointing performances against Spain and Romania in 2025, social media users didn't hold back their opinions, and Vareiro admits he made the mistake of reading their comments.

"I shouldn't have looked at some comments on social media," Vareiro told Talking Rugby Union. Then an injury hit, creating what he calls "the perfect storm."

But the Provence Rugby player had already signed with a French professional team, giving him a fresh start. He moved to France determined to fall back in love with the game, and within three months, everything clicked.

Fast forward to March 2026, and Vareiro became the hero in Portugal's historic 19-17 victory over Georgia. He kicked 12 crucial points and made game-saving tackles that earned him Player of the Match honors.

His approach to pressure kicks caught everyone's attention. When teammate Domingos Cabral missed two early penalties, Vareiro grabbed the ball and kicked fast, without the long preparation most players need.

"I'm not the type of kicker that needs time to kick well," he explained. "I had to reposition the ball and thought to myself, 'Manuel, you're training every day for this goal. You know how critical this is. Kick it!'"

The Ripple Effect

Portugal's championship win ends 22 years of struggle, from being relegated to lower divisions to finally capturing European glory. The victory comes just months before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where Portugal will compete after winning hearts at the 2023 tournament with their first-ever World Cup victory against Fiji.

Vareiro believes this win will inspire a new generation of Portuguese kids to pick up a rugby ball. He remembers watching Portugal's 2007 World Cup team as a child, never imagining he'd one day play alongside his childhood heroes like Tomás Appleton.

The young team proved something important in that championship final. When Georgia scored with 13 minutes left to put Portugal down by eight points, many teams would have crumbled.

"The team could've stopped believing, but we didn't," Vareiro said. They fought back to score twice and claim the trophy.

Vareiro's philosophy keeps him grounded through both criticism and celebration. "On my worst days, I don't allow myself to self-pity or spend time thinking about it," he said.

With 554 days until the next World Cup, Portugal's young squad has time to build on their success, and their biggest lesson is already clear: resilience wins championships.