Order of Merit (Portugal)


The Order of Merit is a Portuguese Honorific Order of civil merit intended to award those responsible for meritorious acts or services performed in the exercise of any functions, both in the public and the private sphere, which reveal self-sacrifice in favor of the community. The decorations are given by the President of the Portuguese Republic, in his role as the Grand-Master of the Portuguese Honorific Orders. The Order of Merit can be awarded, during life or posthumously, to both Portuguese and foreign citizens; it can also be awarded to localities or institutions that are legal persons governed by public law or of public utility. This order has been awarded to a number of people performing the most diverse functions such as ambassadors, businesspeople, military personnel, athletes and musicians.

History

The Order of Merit has its origin in April 1927, when the Order of Instruction and Benefaction was created. The goal of this now extinct order was to distinguish the services performed by people or corporations in order to further the instruction in the country. In 1929, the Order of Instruction and Benefaction was split in two different orders, the Order of Benefaction and the Order of Public Instruction, with the former now solely awarding acts related to social causes, public assistance and goodwill. In 1976, the order was renamed to its current title.

Grades

NamePost-nominalOccupationDate appointed
Carlos Manuel Cabral VerissimoComMBusinessman10 June 1990
José Cardoso PiresGCMWriter4 February 1989
Ruy de CarvalhoGCMActor1 March 2017
Mário CoelhoComMBullfighter23 June 2005
Nicolau BreynerGOMActor9 June 2005
Carlos do CarmoGOMFado singer3 December 2016
Valentim LoureiroComMPolitician18 September 1989
Raul NeryComMMusician8 June 2012
Peter TrickettComMScholar8 October 2009
MHMTuna28 February 2014
Bruno Alves, Eduardo Carvalho, Ricardo Carvalho, William Carvalho, Eder, Eliseu, José Fonte, André Gomes, Raphaël Guerreiro, Anthony Lopes, João Mário, João Moutinho, Nani, Rui Patrício, Pepe, Danilo Pereira, Vieirinha, Ricardo Quaresma, Cristiano Ronaldo, Renato Sanches, Adrien Silva, Rafa Silva, Cédric Soares as UEFA Euro 2016 winnersComMFootballers10 July 2016
Tsanko Arnaudov, Jéssica Augusto, Marisa Barros, Ana Dulce Félix, Vanessa Fernandes, Patrícia Mamona, Sara MoreiraComMAthletes13 July 2016
Fernando PimentaComMCanoeist13 July 2016
Salvador Sobral, Luísa SobralComMMusicians23 April 2018
Fernando SantosGOMFootball coach10 July 2016
Fernanda FreitasOMJournalist10 July 2013
Jim CostaComMPolitician8 June 1996
Andrzej DudaGCMPolitician26 February 2009
Antonio Felix da CostaCommMFormula E driver3 September 2020
Percival NoronhaComMHistorian1 September 2014