Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal into 2026 World Cup with star-studded squad
Cristiano Ronaldo will captain a star-studded Portugal squad featuring a strong Paris St-Germain contingent as they aim to win the 2026 World Cup under manager Roberto Martinez.
The Iberian nation are no longer considered dark horses ahead of the major tournament.
Their current squad boasts the highest number of representatives from Paris St-Germain’s starting line-up in the recent 2026 Champions League final.
Midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves, alongside defender Nuno Mendes, form the core of that successful French club side.
Spanning the generations
Manager Roberto Martinez must find a way to successfully blend emerging youth with experienced veterans.
There is a two-decade age gap between teenage midfielder Neves and the legendary former Real Madrid forward.
They are joined in the squad by Premier League player of the year Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva.
Former Braga manager Carlos Carvalhal believes the national side possesses the tactical intelligence to dominate matches.
“In theory, we have one of the best opportunities,” said Carvalhal.
“I am not so optimistic to say that we are favourites, but we are not worse than the other teams of very high quality.”
A progressive tactical approach
Portugal previously won Euro 2016 under Fernando Santos using a rigid and pragmatic system.
However, the current Spanish head coach has implemented a much more expansive style of play since taking charge.
Carvalhal highlighted the exceptional footballing intelligence of the midfield trio and Silva.
“We are talking about four players that we can put on the pitch with such a level of understanding of the game that they are like teachers at university,” he added.
The ultimate conundrum for the coaching staff remains how best to utilise their all-time top goalscorer throughout the demanding tournament.
