# Order of Merit (Portugal)

The Order of Merit (Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito) 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 (Original Portuguese: Ordem da Instrução e da Benemerência) 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

* Grand Cross (GCM) (Grã-Cruz)
* Grand Officer (GOM) (Grande-Oficial)
* Commander (ComM) (Comendador or Comendadeira)
* Officer (OM) (Oficial)
* Medal (MedM) (Medalha)
* Honorary Member (MHM) (Membro Honorário)

## Notable recipients of the Order of Merit

| Name | Post-nominal | Occupation | Date appointed |
| Carlos Manuel Cabral Verissimo | ComM | Businessman | 10 June 1990 |
| José Cardoso Pires | GCM | Writer | 4 February 1989 |
| Ruy de Carvalho | GCM | Actor | 1 March 2017 |
| Mário Coelho | ComM | Bullfighter | 23 June 2005 |
| Nicolau Breyner | GOM | Actor | 9 June 2005 |
| Carlos do Carmo | GOM | Fado singer | 3 December 2016 |
| Valentim Loureiro | ComM | Politician | 18 September 1989 |
| Raul Nery | ComM | Musician | 8 June 2012 |
| Peter Trickett | ComM | Scholar | 8 October 2009 |
| Luso-Can Tuna | MHM | Tuna | 28 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 winners | ComM | Footballers | 10 July 2016 |
| Tsanko Arnaudov, Jéssica Augusto, Marisa Barros, Ana Dulce Félix, Vanessa Fernandes, Patrícia Mamona, Sara Moreira | ComM | Athletes | 13 July 2016 |
| Fernando Pimenta | ComM | Canoeist | 13 July 2016 |
| Salvador Sobral, Luísa Sobral | ComM | Musicians | 23 April 2018 |
| Fernando Santos | GOM | Football coach | 10 July 2016 |
| Fernanda Freitas | OM | Journalist | 10 July 2013 |
| Jim Costa | ComM | Politician | 8 June 1996 |
| Andrzej Duda | GCM | Politician | 26 February 2009 |
| Antonio Felix da Costa | CommM | Formula E driver | 3 September 2020 |
| Percival Noronha | ComM | Historian | 1 September 2014 |