Portugal's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad is set, and manager Roberto Martínez didn't just hand in a roster. He made a statement. On Tuesday, Martínez officially confirmed his group for the tournament, a list that carries serious firepower and a deeply emotional touch that caught plenty of attention.
The headline, as always with Portugal, is Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41, the captain is heading to his sixth World Cup, a record appearance for any player in the history of the tournament. Martínez has built this squad around a team that just won the UEFA Nations League and dominated World Cup qualifying, averaging over three goals per game.
Portugal enters the expanded 48-team tournament as one of the sides nobody wants to draw.
The Story Behind Portugal's 27+1 World Cup Designation
The "+1" on the official roster isn't a formatting quirk. Martínez dedicated that honorary spot to Diogo Jota, the former national team forward who tragically died in a car accident last year at just 28 years old. It turned what would have been a routine squad announcement into something far more significant for Portuguese football.
Four goalkeepers made the final cut, which is why the outfield count sits at 27. Notable names left out include João Palhinha, Rodrigo Mora, Ricardo Horta, and Pedro Gonçalves.
Portugal's Full 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting CP), Ricardo Velho (Braga)
Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Al-Hilal), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Neves (PSG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (PSG), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (PSG), Francisco Trincao (Sporting)
Portugal's 2026 World Cup Schedule
June 17: Portugal vs DR Congo — Houston
June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan — Houston
June 28: Colombia vs Portugal — Miami
