Age is just a number for him. Even after crossing 41, he remains eternally youthful on the green football pitch. He is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese legend is once again ready to represent his country on the world stage.
In the squad announced for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo will once again lead Portugal as captain. If he features in the tournament, he will become the first male footballer in history to play in six World Cups—an extraordinary milestone. However, his long-time rival Lionel Messi could potentially share this record if he is included in Argentina’s squad as well.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez has consistently shown trust in Ronaldo. With this squad announcement, he has once again made it clear that he cannot imagine a World Cup plan without the Portuguese superstar.
According to FIFA regulations, a World Cup squad can include a maximum of 26 players. However, Martínez named a 27-man squad. Behind this decision lies an emotional tribute: the late Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota, who passed away last year, has been included symbolically as the “27th member” of the squad. Therefore, the actual competitive squad remains 26 players.
Alongside Ronaldo, the squad includes familiar stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes. One of the biggest surprises is forward Gonçalo Guedes, who returned to the national team in March after four years and has now secured a place in the World Cup squad. Additionally, Mallorca defensive midfielder Samuel Costa has earned a spot despite having only four international appearances.
On the other hand, several well-known names have been left out despite good form. Matheus Fernandes of West Ham, Benfica defender António Silva, and forwards Paulinho, Pedro Gonçalves, and Ricardo Horta have all missed out on selection.
Portugal will compete in Group K of the World Cup, where their opponents are Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Before the main tournament, they will play two warm-up matches at home to prepare—against Chile on June 6 and Nigeria on June 10.
Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: José Sá, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho
Defenders: João Cancelo, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Diogo Dalot, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, Nelson Semedo
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Neves, Vitinha, Rúben Neves, Samuel Costa
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonçalo Ramos, Rafael Leão, Francisco Trincão, João Félix, Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Guedes