Portugal has a star-studded squad for the 2026 World Cup, and it may be considered the best Portugal World Cup roster ever.
Last year, Portugal won the UEFA Nations League over Spain, which demonstrates how capable this national team can compete with other big nations. Unfortunately, Portugal and the football world lost a special player in Diogo Jota.
Jota died at 28 years old in a car accident in Spain on July 3, 2025. Jota and his brother André Silva were killed when their Lamborghini veered off the highway near Zamora, Spain, caught fire, and burst into flame.
His passing happened one month after he was part of the Portugal roster that won the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
Many fans believe that Jota would have been a part of this Portugal 2026 World Cup roster if it weren't for the accident. The nation will honor Jota ahead of its first match against DR Congo on June 17.
Diogo Jota's Parents in Attendance With the Portugal National Team
Photo by Maja Hitij - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Jota's parents have been invited by the Portuguese Football Federation to attend Portugal's first World Cup match against DR Congo in Houston.
The Portuguese players and the head coach, Roberto Martinez, remember Jota ahead of the World Cup and say that he is also part of the squad in spirit.
In an interview with DAZN, Martinez said, "The light of Diogo Jota is for us the true inspiration and the real spirit that this team has."
Diogo Dalot spoke with The Players' Tribune about Jota and said that the team will fight for him.
"This summer, it will be very different. We will not just have 26 players," Dalot said. "We will be 26 + 1...I think all we can do is to chase his dream. He wanted so badly to see Portugal become world champions. We won’t just be fighting for our country. We’ll be fighting for Diogo."
