By OkayGoal 
Cristiano Ronaldo will captain Portugal at a record sixth World Cup, the milestone he shares with longtime rival Lionel Messi.
The 41-year-old arrives at what is widely expected to be his international swansong. Portugal travel to North America as reigning Nations League champions, chasing a first World Cup title. Roberto Martínez announced his 26-man squad on 19 May at Cidade do Futebol. One of the most poignant tributes in modern football accompanied the selection.
Portugal coach named the late Diogo Jota as “the plus one forever” in honour of the Liverpool forward. Jota, just 28, was killed in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, last July, alongside his brother André Silva. He had earned 49 caps and scored 14 international goals.
Os 𝟮𝟳+𝟭 que levam o 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗵𝗼 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 para as “Américas” 💭🏆#VaiDarPortugal | @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/NXZY6EiuOY
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) May 19, 2026
Martínez also took the rare step of selecting fourth-choice goalkeeper Ricardo Velho as a 27th squad member. The Gençlerbirliği stopper will travel as cover but can only join the official roster in case of injury to one of the three registered keepers.
Portugal: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and Schedule
Ronaldo, Portugal’s all-time top scorer with 143 international goals, missed the qualifying finale against Armenia through suspension. Portugal still ran out 9-1 winners to seal their World Cup ticket. Bruno Fernandes pulls the strings in midfield.
A PSG core of Vitinha, João Neves and Nuno Mendes arrives on a Champions League high. The Paris club just lifted back-to-back European Cups, beating Arsenal in the most recent final. AC Milan’s Rafael Leão, Chelsea’s Pedro Neto and Juventus’ Francisco Conceição offer wide attacking threat. Manchester City’s Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva anchor defence and creativity, respectively.
Group K pits Portugal against DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia. The Colombia match in Miami looms as the likely decider for top spot.
Portugal 2026 World Cup fixtures
- Wednesday, June 17th – Portugal vs DR Congo – Houston, USA
- Tuesday, June 23rd – Portugal vs Uzbekistan – Houston, USA
- Sunday, June 28th – Portugal vs Colombia – Miami, USA
What time do Portugal’s World Cup games kick off?
All kick-off times are BST.
- Portugal vs DR Congo, 6pm
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan, 6pm
- Portugal vs Colombia, 12.30am
Portugal 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad
27 players named plus a symbolic “plus one” tribute to the late Diogo Jota.
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP); Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi Ankara);
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United); Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe SK), João Cancelo (FC Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal); Rúben Dias (Manchester City); Tomás Araújo (SL Benfica);
Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samuel Costa (Mallorca), João Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City);
Forwards: João Félix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Gonçalo Ramos (PSG); Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr).
Manager: Roberto Martínez
Read more – Austria: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and Schedule
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