Portugal are hugely talented but are led by a fading Cristiano Ronaldo and are still grieving the loss of Diogo Jota.
Portugal come into yet another tournament dominated by the question of Cristiano Ronaldo and whether the veteran and his side can finally win the one major trophy that has eluded them in his final World Cup.
Key Match Details
Even in the 2022 edition, there were many questions over whether Portugal are worse with their record goalscorer in the lineup.
While those concerns have hardly abated in the intervening four years, Ronaldo was a prominent part of qualifying and seems nailed on to start under boss Roberto Martinez if he is fit.
With or without Ronaldo, this Portugal team – playing in their seventh consecutive World Cup – is richly talented, led by self-belief and genuine contenders to lift the trophy.
Portugal are still grieving the loss of forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last summer. His absence will be sorely felt on and off the pitch.
Martinez said he considered Jota to be a “plus one forever” in a tribute to the player.
“The final list includes 27 names plus one,” Martinez said.
“To lose Diogo Jota was an unforgettable moment and a very difficult moment.
“But the next day it was a responsibility for all of us to fight for Diogo Jota’s dream and for the example that he was in our national team. The spirit, the strength, the example of Diogo Jota, the plus one.
He will be the plus one forever.”
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Selection Calls and Tactical Themes
At this point, Ronaldo is not Portugal’s “player to watch” because he is the best player, as the 41-year-old striker has long been a fading force at elite level – it’s more because of his outsized status.
No one doubts the historic greatness of CR7 – he leads Portugal’s and international football’s all-time scoring charts with a staggering 143 goals.
But questions abound over his fitness and his discipline. He missed Portugal’s friendlies in March with a hamstring issue, and he’s lucky to be even available to play for Portugal in the group stage after he received a red card against Ireland during qualifying for violent conduct.
The typical three-match ban for such behaviour was mysteriously reduced to one game by UEFA, which he has now served.
His recent big tournament performances have been poor. He scored just once at the 2022 World Cup and failed to score at all at Euro 2024, despite starting all five games.
Managing his workload in the sapping summer heat of Houston, Miami and elsewhere will be a challenge, and there are the tactical concerns – Portugal can look more dangerous without the less mobile Ronaldo up front.
But if Ronaldo is fit, it is hard to see how this all-time great and Portugal’s captain will be left out, and he will relish the opportunity to show that he still has what it takes during his World Cup swansong. He also has more records in sight.
Ronaldo needs two goals to surpass Eusebio’s World Cup record of nine for Portugal.
“When we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, we talk about two players,” Martinez said.
“We talk about the icon of world soccer and we talk about the player, our captain, who has the same demands as the other players, the competitiveness to be in the national team. Our captain is an example.
We want him to continue with the same level of responsibility and leadership inside the locker room.”
Why This Story Matters Before Kickoff
Ronaldo has the benefit of playing in front of a superlative midfield. Bruno Fernandes has rediscovered his form at Manchester United this season, notching up a record 21 Premier League assists, as he has returned to his favoured number 10 role.
With the likes of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bernardo Silva playing alongside Fernandes, Portugal are able to control most games, dictate the tempo, and unlock the most miserly of defences.
Vitinha, in particular, has found the form of his life as the PSG player finished third in the 2025 Ballon d’Or and pulls the strings from a deep-lying role, while his clubmate Joao Neves, still just 21 years old, is rapidly becoming one of the smartest midfielders in European football.
However, while the pace and trickery of Rafael Leao and Conceicao offer consistent threats down the flanks, the former’s fitness and output have been a concern this season.
Many remain unconvinced by Portugal’s Spanish coach Martinez. He does not seem willing or able to stand up to Ronaldo when needed, and his big tournament tenure at Portugal and previously Belgium has generally been underwhelming.
Martinez’s side did, however, make a big statement with a fantastic performance and a victory on penalties in the 2025 Nations League final over a phenomenal Spain side.
Martinez played down his side’s chances before the tournament.
“I think only a national team that has already won the World Cup can be a favourite,” he said.
Match Context and What to Watch
Pre-match stories perform best when they turn a headline into a clear tactical lens: where the overloads will come from, which duel decides the game, and which selection call carries the most risk. That is what fans search for in the final days before kickoff.
The best companion coverage is the relevant lineup page, because it connects the headline to formation, likely starters, and substitution options. That helps readers move from news consumption to actual match planning.