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 (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) (to institutions and localities) List of all appointments to the Order of Merit correct as at December 2007
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 2020Percival NoronhaComMHistorian 1 September 2014
References