 With 34 caps for Portugal, Capucho played more defensively for the nation than while at Porto, appearing at UEFA Euro 2000 (two late substitute appearances and a start against Germany, when Portugal was already qualified) and the 2002 FIFA World Cup (replacing Sérgio Conceição in the 4–0 thrashing of Poland).After Luiz Felipe Scolari took over as national team boss in early 2003, he was never called again.In 1991, Capucho only missed one game as the under-20s (which also included Rui Costa, Luís Figo and João Vieira Pinto) won the FIFA World Cup, played on home soil.