While CR7 prepares to stand alone in football immortality, Martínez had to make some brutal cuts, leaving out Pedro Gonçalves and Ricardo Horta.
Cristiano Ronaldo at 41 will lead Portugal in his sixth World Cup.
The 27-man squad has a symbolic “plus one” in memory of the late Diogo Jota.
Os + que levam o para as “Américas” #VaiDarPortugal | @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/NXZY6EiuOY
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) May 19, 2026
The former Real Madrid player has already participated in World Cups in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022, and at the age of 41 he will travel to the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026.
This is an achievement nobody has accomplished in history. This record can be matched by Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa (Mexico).
Os convocados para o Mundial 2026 #VaiDarPortugal | @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/XonTsyxiBp
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) May 19, 2026
Exclusion of a Rising Star
“It is a sad day because we have to leave out players who have been with us,” said Roberto Martínez, who left out Rodrigo Mora, Ricardo Horta, Mateus Fernandes and Pedro Gonçalves.
Martinez announced a squad of 27 players instead of the usual 26. At the last minute, he included a fourth goalkeeper: Ricardo Velho.
Tactical Balance
Cristiano Ronaldo will have a great team of veterans supporting him—Rúben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo, Rúben Neves, and João Félix.
“I wanted to have two players per position”, justified the Portugal coach, who appeared ambitious ahead of the World Cup after having guided Portugal to win the Nations League: “We want to do something that has never been done [win the World Cup] and we have the will to dream big. The selection of players has been a responsible, honest process and involved a lot of work. I think we have achieved a great balance”.
In Honour of Diogo Jota
Martinez said his squad consisted of “27 players plus one”, a reference to Liverpool forward Jota, who died in a car accident in July last year, aged 28.
“He is our strength, our joy,” Martinez said. “Losing Diogo was an unforgettable and very difficult moment, but the very next day, it was up to all of us to fight for Diogo’s dream and for the example he always set in our national team. Diogo Jota’s spirit, strength and example are the +1 and will always be the +1.”
4 Spain-based Players
Besides Cancelo, there are three other players from La Liga: Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), and Samú Costa (Mallorca).
Asked about the rumored inclusion of Bournemouth forward who said to be on the verge of nationalization, he said: “There was contact before the March break and, at that time, he preferred to play for France, something we respect”.’
27-man squad for the World Cup
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton), Rui Silva (Sporting CP) and Ricardo Velho (Gençlerbirligi).
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Rúben Dias (Manchester City) and Tomás Araújo (Benfica).
Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samú Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
Forwards: Joao Félix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceiçao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (Milan), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Gonçalo Ramos (PSG) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr).
