August 2005. On 12 October, against Latvia, he netted twice to become the national team's all-time goal scoring leader at the time, surpassing Eusébio's previous record of 41. During the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, Pauleta was the European zone's top scorer and, in a friendly match against Cape Verde in May 2006 preluding the final stages, he showed great form as he netted a hat-trick in a 4–1 win. However, after scoring the side's first goal in the group stage match against Angola, he failed to find the net again during the tournament; after Portugal's defeat to Germany in the third place play-off, he announced his international retirement. Style of play A prolific goalscorer in his prime, Pauleta was considered one of the best strikers in Europe. He usually operated as a lone striker or alongside another forward, and combined mobility, pace and athleticism with good technique, two-footedness and strength in the air. Personal life Pauleta's nickname was passed down from generation to generation in the family of his father's maternal grandmother, while his goal celebration of spreading his arms like wings earned him the additional moniker The Eagle of the Azores. In November 2005, he signed to become a FIFA ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages, the first Portuguese to do so. Career statistics Club International Honours Deportivo La Liga: 1999–2000 Supercopa de España: 2000 Bordeaux Coupe de la Ligue: 2001–02 Paris Saint-Germain Coupe de France: 2003–04, 2005–06 Coupe de la Ligue: 2007–08 Portugal UEFA European Championship: runner-up 2004 Individual Segunda División top scorer: 1996–97 Ligue 1 top scorer: 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07 UNFP Ligue 1 Footballer of the Year: 2001–02, 2002–03 UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2002–03, 2005–06 UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: October 2003 Orders Commander of the Order of Merit Officer of the Order of Prince Henry Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (House of Braganza) References External links Paris SG official profile 1973 births Living people People from Ponta Delgada Portuguese footballers Association football forwards Liga Portugal 2 players Segunda Divisão players C.D. Santa Clara players CU Micaelense players G.D. Estoril Praia players La Liga players Segunda División players UD Salamanca players Deportivo de La Coruña players Ligue 1 players FC Girondins de Bordeaux players Paris Saint-Germain F.C. players Portugal youth international footballers Portugal under-21 international footballers Portugal international footballers UEFA Euro 2000 players 2002 FIFA