Global sports interest surprisingly outpaced major domestic events and crises among Portuguese Google users in 2025, according to newly released annual search data.
The “Club World Cup” emerged as the most searched term in Portugal for the year. This finding was notable given the country also experienced a significant power outage, known as the “Blackout,” which genuinely impacted daily life.
Google’s analysis, based on trillions of searches throughout 2025, highlighted the unique national curiosity. The “Blackout” ranked second in overall searches, followed by “Municipal Election Results.”
Other prominent search terms in the top 10 included “Pope Leo XIV,” the “Glória Funicular” (a historic Lisbon landmark), “Earthquake,” and “Labubu.”
Football, a sport that generates considerable passion in Portugal, dominated specific search categories. The names of players involved in transfers garnered significant attention. Richard Ríos, a Colombian midfielder signed by Benfica, was the most searched player.
Luuk de Jong, a Dutch reinforcement for FC Porto, was the second most searched player. Viktor Gyökeres, a Swedish forward who moved from Sporting to Arsenal, also featured prominently. Thiago Almada, a player Benfica reportedly pursued before he joined Atlético Madrid, was another highly searched name.
Beyond active players, two football personalities, Diogo Jota and Jorge Costa, were the most searched deceased individuals, reflecting the shock their passing caused during the year.
In the “What is…” category, “What is turbosexual?” was the most frequently asked question, a term popularized by Filipe La Cerda in early 2025. Portuguese users also sought definitions for terms like “flotilla,” “reborn doll,” “aspiration pneumonia,” and “motion of no confidence.”
The “How…” category saw users seeking practical solutions. “How to know where to vote?” was the top search. “How does the Glória Funicular work?” also ranked high, influenced by a tragedy in Lisbon. Curiosity extended to “How does OnlyFans work?” and “How to make money online?”.
For “How to make…?” queries, the most common search was “How to print screen on PC.” This was followed by “How to do the anime trend?” and “How to make strawberry love?”. Culinary interests also appeared, with searches for “homemade mayonnaise,” “Dubai chocolate,” “chicken stroganoff,” and “basmati rice.”