File photo: Portugal’s World Cup 2026 campaign will begin against DR Congo on June 17 before taking on Uzbekistan and Colombia on June 23 and 27, respectively. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

In the 21st century, this group of 27 Portuguese players selected by Roberto Martinez is probably the most star-studded that the Iberian nation has taken to a World Cup. While the selection of an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo continues to garner the most attention, the depth in star quality sprinkled across the XI and in the reserves is unmissable.

In the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, the 41-year-old Ronaldo did not feature in the top 30, while the Portuguese trio of Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves made it on the back of its treble-winning season with Paris St. Germain. In fact, Ronaldo hasn’t featured in the top 30 list for the last three seasons, highlighting his waning influence.

Yet it hasn’t deterred his manager, Martinez’s faith in the Al Nassr forward. While Ronaldo has continued to rack up the goals in Saudi Arabia and in tournament qualifiers, his track record in crunch major tournament matches – World Cups and European Championships – has always been a question mark.

Though his overall numbers make for a reasonable record with 22 goals and 10 assists in 52 matches across 11 tournament outings, he is yet to score a goal or register an assist in eight knockout World Cup games. His last knockout goal came in the 2016 Euros semifinal, before Portugal went on to win the title for the first time.

In what will be his 12th major tournament appearance and likely his last, will the glamour quotient around his presence continue to sway Martinez’s influence?

“We manage the Cristiano Ronaldo that plays for the national team, trying to get into ‌the squad for 2026, not the iconic figure,” Martinez said last week.

The Spaniard highlighted his experience, accounting for a staggering 970 career goals, which will likely aid Portugal’s bid for a maiden World Cup title. “He is fantastic at those movements, those runs, opening spaces, splitting centre halves,” he said.

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Despite being stacked with quality, the form of his attacking players is what Martinez will be concerned with. While Ronaldo will be his undisputed starting no. 9, Goncalo Ramos, who has a World Cup Round of 16 hat-trick under his name, will be his understudy. Ramos, though, has struggled for regular game time at PSG. The form of Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto, who are his first-choice wide players, has struggled with their outputs at their clubs.

For Martinez, Portugal’s midfield will be his biggest asset. Vitinha and Neves will complement the form of attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who registered a Premier League record-equalling 20 assists to go with his eight goals. In tournament football, where control mixed with firepower can take a team deep, Portugal’s midfield is as complete as it can get across its competitors.

Whereas in past major competitions, Portugal was hamstrung with a lack of depth to back up its starting XI, Martinez doesn’t face such issues this time around. In an era where five substitutions come into play, Portugal has an equally strong bench to call upon.

Bernardo Silva, who has played some of his best football in a pivot at Manchester City, Ruben Neves and defensive midfielder Samu Costa add depth. Joao Felix, who has scored eight goals in nine recent outings, can slot in as a back-up in the no. 10 role or as a striker.

The backline will be led by the experienced Ruben Dias, who is returning from injury and Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio, with Renato Veiga and Tomas Araujo providing cover. PSG’s Mendes has emerged as among the best left-backs in recent seasons. At right back, Dalot offers solidity, while Joao Cancelo adds creativity from the back.

The one surprise was the inclusion of a fourth goalkeeper with Gençlerbirliği’s Ricardo Velho finding a spot with the usual suspects of Diogo Costa, Jose Sa and Rui Silva.

While Costa is the number one choice, second-choice Jose Sa is coming into the tournament on the back of a relegation campaign with Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Rui Silva and Velho are relatively untested at the international level.

It is likely, one goalkeeper out of Silva and Velho, will be cut from the group before the start of the tournament.

Best XI

Diogo Costa; Diogo Dalot, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Inacio, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Cristiano Ronaldo

PORTUGAL SQUAD FOR FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

• Goalkeeper: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho
• Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias, Tomas Arajuo
• Midfielder: Ruben Neves, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Samu Costa
• Forwards: Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo

Published on May 19, 2026