"The final list includes 27 names plus one," Roberto Martinez said, referring to Diogo Jota — the forward killed in a car crash last summer who will shadow this entire Portugal campaign. That quote tells you more about where Portugal's head is than any pre-tournament ranking.
On paper, this is one of the most talented Portugal squads ever assembled. In reality, they're carrying grief, a 41-year-old striker who hasn't scored at a major tournament since 2022, and a coach who still hasn't entirely convinced people he's the right man for the job.
The Ronaldo question hasn't gone away
Cristiano Ronaldo needs two goals to surpass Eusébio's all-time Portugal World Cup record of nine. He leads international football's all-time scoring chart with 143 goals. The case for his legend is airtight. The case for starting him in a tournament where Portugal have genuine trophy ambitions is shakier.
He scored once at the 2022 World Cup. He scored zero at Euro 2024, despite starting every game. He missed Portugal's March friendlies with a hamstring issue. He received a red card for violent conduct during qualifying — a ban UEFA mysteriously trimmed from three matches to one.
Martinez will almost certainly start him anyway, and that's where the tactical tension lives. Portugal are demonstrably more dangerous without a less mobile centre-forward clogging the channels. Rafael Leao and Francisco Conceição offer pace and directness. Gonçalo Ramos offers movement and clinical finishing. Ronaldo offers history, presence, and a captain's armband — but the numbers from recent tournaments suggest Portugal pay a price for that.
Managing his minutes in the summer heat of Houston and Miami will be a genuine challenge, and a hamstring that flared in March doesn't exactly inspire confidence heading into a six-week tournament.
The midfield is genuinely elite
Whatever questions surround the attack, Portugal's engine room is the envy of most squads at this tournament. Bruno Fernandes registered 21 Premier League assists this season — a record — back operating as a true number 10. Vitinha finished third in the 2025 Ballon d'Or. João Neves, still 21, is becoming one of the sharpest midfielders in European football. Bernardo Silva provides the intelligence to knit it all together.
This midfield can control tempo, press high, and pick apart compact defences. It's the kind of unit that wins knockout games.
Group K sets up well. DR Congo and Uzbekistan — both making their World Cup debuts — are unlikely to trouble Portugal in their opening two fixtures in Houston. Colombia in Miami is the real test: ranked 13th, with Luis Díaz, James Rodríguez and Daniel Muñoz, they'll push for top spot. That game could serve as a useful barometer for how far Portugal can actually go.
- June 17: Portugal vs DR Congo — Houston, 1pm ET (17:00 GMT)
- June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan — Houston, 1pm ET (17:00 GMT)
- June 27: Colombia vs Portugal — Miami, 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT)
Martinez, for his part, is playing down expectations. "Only a national team that has already won the World Cup can be a favourite," he said. It reads as diplomatic deflection, but he's not entirely wrong. Portugal have the midfield to compete with anyone. Whether the attack and a defence that has leaked at big moments can hold up through a full knockout run is another matter entirely.
A quarterfinal exit — as Al Jazeera predicts — would feel like underachievement given the squad depth. A deep run depends heavily on Ronaldo staying fit enough to contribute without limiting what the team around him can do. That's a fine line Martinez has never shown much appetite for walking.
