It's still Cristiano Ronaldo.
On the evening of May 19th (Vietnam time), coach Roberto Martinez finalized the preliminary 27-player squad for the 2026 World Cup for Portugal. One player will be dropped from the final list before FIFA's May 30th deadline.
Ronaldo will become the first player in history to participate in six World Cups.
The focal point of the "European Selecao" in North America this summer remains Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41, the superstar who won Euro 2016 continues to be seen as the spiritual leader and technical "engine" of the Portuguese national team. Although he no longer maintains the explosive form of his peak, CR7 still proved his worth with 8 goals on the way to winning the 2024-2025 Nations League.
Currently, the striker born in 1985 leads the list of players with the most appearances for a single men's national team (226 times). He is also the only player to have scored in 5 World Cups. Last November, Ronaldo confirmed to CNN that this would "definitely" be his last World Cup. After more than two decades of dedication, the World Cup trophy is the only missing piece in CR7's illustrious career.
A blend of creativity and control.
Coach Roberto Martinez is also looking for players capable of sharing the workload with Ronaldo in every position, avoiding placing too much pressure on the 41-year-old striker. In attack, the "European Selecao" have many options with speed and technical skill such as Rafael Leao, Francisco Conceição, and Francisco Trincão. This group of players has the potential to create breakthroughs, fitting the fast-paced style of play that Martinez is building.
The Portuguese national team is aiming for the 2026 World Cup title as a farewell gift to legend CR7.
In midfield, Portugal possesses an ideal blend of creativity and control. Vitinha and Joao Neves bring youthful energy, while Bruno Fernandes remains the "brain" in the system's operation. After a stellar season at Man United with 21 assists up to round 37 of the Premier League, the midfielder born in 1994 is expected to play a decisive role in Portugal's goal of progressing further in the tournament.
Conversely, two other Premier League stars, Joao Palhinha and Matheus Fernandes, were not included in the list because Tottenham and West Ham are both struggling to avoid relegation this season.
In terms of defense, coach Roberto Martinez has quite a few quality options. The duo of Ruben Dias and Goncalo Inacio provide solidity in the center of the defense, while Nuno Mendes is considered the best left-back in the world today.
On the right wing, Diogo Dalot, Nelson Semedo, and Joao Cancelo will be fiercely competing for a starting spot at the 2026 World Cup. Matheus Nunes of Man City could also fill this role, having been deployed on the right wing by Pep Guardiola in the Premier League this season.
In goal, Diogo Costa is almost certain to be the starting goalkeeper thanks to his consistent form that helped Porto win the Portuguese league recently. Behind him is the experience of Jose Sa and other backup options such as Ricardo Velho and Rui Silva. It is likely that either Velho or Silva will be left out of the final squad.
In the group stage, coach Roberto Martinez's team will face the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. This is considered a relatively favorable group for Portugal.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/ronaldo-san-sang-cho-ky-world-cup-cuoi-cung-19626051921573526.htm
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