They say goalkeepers peak when they are in their 30s. But now, a new generation of shot stoppers is taking over and deliver constant good performances from a young age.

Just five months ago, Diogo Rêma Marques was between one of the main reasons why Portugal finished fourth at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship. With 43 saves, Rêma Marques delivered some excellent performances at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025, lifting his side close to a medal.

It was close, but eventually Portugal conceded a 34:35 loss in the bronze medal match against France, coming up just short of finishing on the podium. But with a young squad, the European side still celebrated the achievement and promised to return in the next years.

Fast-forward to June 2025 and Portugal delivered yet another premiere for their handball. For the first time in history, they are in the final of the IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, after sweeping their opponents on the way to the final against Denmark, scheduled for Sunday, in Katowice.

And Rêma Marques is there, just like he was in the previous edition of the IHF Men’s Junior Championship, when Portugal finished sixth.

“Being in the final of a World Championship with a small country like us is something amazing. Of course, the fourth place in the senior event in January was a historic moment too. And now we have already delivered a historic performance, because this is the first final in the Under-21 event. We will not stop here and continue working,” says Portugal’s goalkeeper.

At only 21 years old, Rêma Marques is already one of the most experienced goalkeepers in Portugal, after representing the younger age category teams, including two silver medals at the M20 EHF EURO. Both times, in 2022 and 2024, Portugal have conceded the finals against Spain.

This time around, at Poland 2025, in his last major international competition for the younger age categories, Rêma Marques will finally get the chance to secure his maiden title. Once again, against a formidable opponent in the final, a Denmark team which won seven out of seven and also took a 31:28 win against Portugal in a friendly match in May.

“I think we had that vision that we could have a medal at least. But, of course, the gold medal is our main goal and we believed that we can achieve that since the very beginning. Yet I don’t think it would have been good in the beginning of the competition just to think about the gold. We needed to move forward, win the matches, and now we can really think that we can play for the title,” adds Rêma Marques.

The top performance at the IHF Men’s Junior World Championship for Portugal was a bronze medal in 1995, exactly 30 years ago, when they defeated Norway, 24:23, in the bronze medal match.

Now, another Scandinavian team sits between Portugal and the coveted trophy, with Rêma Marques confident that his side can finally become world champions.

“We did everything we could and I think on Sunday we will play better. I hope that and we will prepare for that. The World Championship is the biggest competition there is and we are going to enjoy the final and play the best game we can,” adds the shot stopper.

Rêma Marques has been crucial in Portugal’s performance until now, as one of the most experienced players in the team – if not the most experienced. That experienced paid off in the most crucial moment of the semi-final against the Faroe Islands, when Portugal faced a penalty shot after the time was up – 80 minutes on the clock, with a one-goal lead, 38:37.

Isak Vedelsboel, who had previously converted three of the four penalties he had, took the ball. But Rêma Marques was there, went the correct way and stop the shot, before an explosion of joy saw the visibly tired Portugal players run amok in the Arena Sosnowiec.

“I normally study a lot my opponents and I have conceded some goals from penalties during the match. With the penalty, I knew what he liked to do and I tried to focus on his movements. I had prepared before the match, it went well and we were very happy with the save, of course,” says Portugal’s goalkeeper.

And is his final match for the junior squad, Rêma Marques has the chance to be sent off with another fantastic result.

“I think this year has been unbelievable because the results we had in the national team were just amazing. Both in the senior squad and in the junior one, the environments were amazing. Everybody is pushing for each other and everybody is trying to help Portugal to be one step forward than before. There are plenty of players here who can be in the senior squad in the future, we have a lot of quality. Therefore, nice things are waiting for us in the future,” concluded Rêma Marques.