Clube Desportivo Nacional was founded on 8 December 1910 in Funchal, on the island of Madeira. Since 1998 the club has played at the Estádio da Madeira, also known as the Choupana, a compact ground above the city with a capacity of around 5,200.

Nacional has never won a major national trophy; its best Primeira Liga finishes were fourth place in 2003-04 and 2008-09, and it has reached the semi-finals of the Taça de Portugal on several occasions. Those league placings brought five European campaigns between 2004 and 2014, the most celebrated of which saw the Madeirans eliminate reigning UEFA Cup holders Zenit Saint Petersburg 5-4 on aggregate in 2009.

The club won the Segunda Liga in 2017-18 and is best known internationally for developing a young Cristiano Ronaldo before his move to Sporting CP. It plays in black and white stripes in the Primeira Liga.