From Porto to Lisbon: an immersion in Portuguese padel
Porto, Guimarães and Felgueiras show how numerous padel clubs are in northern Portugal, while Lisbon and Oeiras reveal an organisation more focused on academies and the FIP circuit. The video does not rank the best venues, but it offers several practical entry points for understanding where and how padel is played in Portugal.
After Bali and Australia, Léo Poulain continues a project built around six documentaries in six countries. The principle remains the same: using padel to tell the story of a territory, its players, its clubs and the people who bring the sport to life. In Portugal, the journey begins in Porto, passes through Guimarães and Felgueiras, and ends in the Lisbon region.
The documentary shows how padel fits into local life, how clubs welcome visiting players and how they organise their activities. Encounters, journeys and unexpected events shape the story, with club visits providing the common thread.
Has Portugal moved ahead of other European padel markets? The filmmaker does not present a national audit. He builds his answer from what he sees on location, across several cities and through a range of different profiles.
Clubs designed for playing, learning and staying
The first images filmed in the north show spacious complexes, well-maintained courts and run-off areas wide enough for players to continue the point outside the court. In Guimarães, the team visits a venue built on former tennis courts. Léo Poulain focuses on one practical detail: the space around the courts, which is often reduced in clubs seeking to optimise every square metre.
In Felgueiras, the documentary changes scale. The filmmaker observes a dense local offering and meets club managers who describe a sport that is becoming increasingly accessible to women and children. The figures mentioned in the film remain local observations, but the same message emerges from one club to another: junior coaching is not treated as a secondary activity.
A stop at a three-court venue also provides a pricing reference. At the time of filming, the featured club charged 18 euros during off-peak hours and 27 euros during peak hours for 90 minutes. This price does not represent the entire Portuguese market, but it illustrates the accessibility sought by some local clubs.
- Well-maintained courts, with glass and turf that make players want to step onto the court.
- Visible junior academies, including in modest-sized facilities.
- A social form of play, where beginners, competitors and families share the same venue.
- A varied offering, from small local clubs to performance-focused centres.
Laura Buteau describes a more structured training system
In Lisbon, the documentary takes on a more technical dimension with Laura Buteau. The French player, who lives in Portugal and competes on the FIP circuit, trains at an academy that brings together a padel coach, a physical trainer, an osteopath and nutritional support. Her account provides a useful counterpoint to the impressions gathered in the clubs of northern Portugal.
She explains that she has changed her technique, particularly to hit flatter shots, keep her wrist more stable and make her trajectories safer. The aim is not to produce a more spectacular shot, but to build a more consistent game. She also describes a tactical culture close to the Spanish school, with more patience, chiquitas and point construction.
The discussion also covers tournament organisation. According to Laura Buteau, one application centralises registration, payment, draws and results. Local categories range from F1 to F6 for women and from M1 to M6 for men. This system makes competitions easier to follow for regular players.
The FIP Silver Oeiras as a full-scale test
The journey ends with a step onto the international circuit. Partnering Baptiste Gaulier, Léo Poulain enters the FIP Silver Oeiras, held from 20 to 24 May 2026 at Oeiras Padel Academy. The event offered 18,000 euros in prize money and a qualifying draw with space for up to 64 pairs.
For the filmmaker, the stakes go beyond the result. He is returning from injury, has had limited training and enters his first FIP tournament without any ranking points. The pair receives a first-round bye before losing 6-0, 6-2 in its opening match against two young Portuguese players presented in the film as members of a national youth selection.
The defeat is clear. It does not bring the story to an end. Léo Poulain’s official profile awards him two points for his appearance in Oeiras. The documentary therefore turns a travel experience into his first entry on the international ranking.
Portugal, a model that is already firmly established
The film does not try to hide the setbacks: a broken racket, irregular training, complicated travel and an uneven first FIP match. This honesty gives weight to the conclusion. Léo Poulain does not simply compare Portuguese facilities with those he knows in France. He connects the clubs, training, playing culture and hospitality to support a broader idea.
“Portugal is not looking for its place in world padel. It is already an example. Portugal is behind no one. It is simply a model.”
The statement is deliberately firm. The images provide several arguments: well-maintained facilities, opportunities for young players, performance-focused academies and an established playing culture. The documentary remains the perspective of a traveller, not a statistical study. Its value lies in this method: entering clubs, playing with local players and testing impressions on the court.
This third episode also confirms how the project is evolving. After filming the development of padel in Bali and Australia, Léo Poulain now adds a competitive stage to his journeys. The next countries will therefore be observed from the stands, inside the clubs and from within a FIP tournament draw.
Watch the third episode
The third episode is available on Léo Poulain’s YouTube channel. The project was produced with the support of HOLY, Dunlop, Padel Reference, Griffon Capital, ASICS and Kia Rennes, with Tam’s Prod, Eliot and Louis handling the production.
