By the late '80s, Carreira had gained enough recognition that he participated in national performance competitions, distinguishing himself among hundreds of competitors. He signed a three-year deal with Discossette in 1990, recording such hits as "E Verao em Portugal" and "Meu Heroi Pequeno," which elevated him to national renown. His 1992 release Canta, Canta Portugal marked the completion of his contract, and he began working with the Editora Especial label, with whom he produced his first record to go gold, Português de Alma e Coração. Having maintained an active recording and performance career throughout the mid- to late '90s, Carreira made his breakthrough into the mainstream in 2000 at the Olympia Theater in Paris. The live record that came out of the concert, Tony Carreira ao Vivo no Olympia, went triple platinum and spent 37 weeks at number one on the national charts. His tremendous success on-stage at the Olympia was repeated a short time later, and yet again in 2002 at the Coliseu in Lisbon. Celebrating 15 years of success in 2003, Carreira performed again in Lisbon, this time at the Atlantic Pavilion, producing a live album and DVD. Tony Carreira ao Vivo no Pavilhao Atlantico went quadruple platinum. Carreira returned to the Atlantic Pavilion in 2006 for another round of large-scale concerts, this time to slightly smaller audiences. His 2007 release Vida Que Eu Escolhi found its way to the Top 20 on Portuguese charts, marking Carreira as a pop talent with notable staying power. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez