PORTUGAL POTENTIAL
The signs are good for Portugal as the 2026 FIFA World Cup edges closer and they aim to become champions for the first time. Stephen Donovan assesses how the team is shaping up and explains why they should be considered among the favourites.
It might be easy these days to consider Portugal as the international footballing powerhouse it has undoubtedly become, but that never used to be the case. It is just a 21st century thing. Barring a run to third place in 1966 inspired by goalscoring legend Eusebio, even qualifying for the World Cup was a relatively rare event for this Iberian nation with a much smaller population than many of its European counterparts.
Now, they are perennial contenders and serial trophy winners. In an era that was ushered in by stars such as Luis Figo and Rui Costa before becoming utterly defined by the mind-blowing career of Cristiano Ronaldo, the evolution that has brought European Championship glory in 2016 and two successes in the UEFA Nations League now looks like it could well deliver the greatest prize of all.
For all their success over the past 25 years, Portugal are still yet to win or indeed make the final of the FIFA World Cup. The closest they came was at the 2006 showpiece in Germany, where they came through a series of tight games before losing to a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the semi-finals. Their story since then at football’s most prestigious event has been one of fine margins and near misses, but with the 2026 edition fast approaching the Selecao are confident that their time may finally arrive, as they are set to enter the competition armed with what is probably their best ever squad.
Miraculously, Ronaldo is still there, leading the line and at the centre of everything at the age of 40. The most capped male player of all time; by far and away the highest scorer in men’s international football. It feels like every time he takes to the field for Portugal, he breaks yet another record. He has lived a thousand lives and experienced the full spectrum of emotions in a remarkable 21-year career with the national team, but the only thing missing is a World Cup winner’s medal.
Even for a player as unique as Ronaldo, you would think that 2026 surely represents his last chance. He’ll arrive in North America comfortably in his 42nd year and eyeing the prospect of following in the footsteps of his old rival Lionel Messi, who at long last added the World Cup to his glittering collection last time out in 2022. It would be the most fitting way to potentially bow out, and he is still proving he can perform at the very highest level, having been among the leading scorers in qualifying. He also found the net in both the semi-final and final to help seal Portugal’s 2024-25 Nations League triumph.
Ronaldo’s presence has automatically made Portugal one of the teams to watch out for at every major tournament, but what makes them look like red-hot contenders this time is that they rely less on the five-time Ballon D’Or winner’s superstar status than at any point since the early days of his international career. This is now a team packed with world-class talent in all departments, and several of them look to be hitting their peak just in time for the summer.
For a few years now, Ruben Dias has been one of the world’s top centre-backs. The Manchester City stalwart is an old-school defender whose influence forms a key component in the spine of Portugal’s team. At 28, he may see this as his best chance of winning the World Cup, while the same goes for midfielders Ruben Neves and Joao Palhinha.
Indeed, it’s in midfield where they are blessed with the most quality options, with a roster that is gifted both technically and physically. The creative minds of Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva are veterans of a number of major tournament campaigns and bring an abundance of class, but most excitingly of all for Portugal in the centre of the park, they can call upon one of Europe’s most exceptional partnerships.
Joao Neves and Vitinha can arguably be described as the current generation’s answer to Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, albeit while playing more of a high-tempo style. Together they have formed the basis of the all-conquering Paris Saint-Germain side that has become the best team in Europe, with their tireless energy off the ball matched by their seamless control when in possession. Deployed at right-back to good effect during the Nations League finals, Joao Neves will likely return to a central role for what will be his first World Cup, and just like Xavi and Iniesta, his relationship with Vitinha at club level gives Portugal a welcome advantage. Whether coach Roberto Martinez opts for a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, these two are the most vital cogs in the machine.
There are more stars just about everywhere else you look, too. Neves and Vitinha’s PSG teammate Nuno Mendes is widely regarded as the best left-back in the world at present, combining strong defensive qualities with electrifying attacking displays. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa has never let them down; Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto offer blistering pace. Meanwhile, Ronaldo rarely completes 90 minutes for his country anymore, but gone are the days when Portugal has a dearth of good strikers to choose from, as Goncalo Ramos, Francisco Conceicao, and the mercurial Joao Felix all lie in reserve.
Pure talent isn’t always enough, as Martinez knows all too well from his time leading Belgium’s Golden Generation between 2016 and 2022, a time where they were often tipped for glory only to fall short. However, the Spaniard has already gone one better in his current role by winning the Nations League, an experience that should serve him very well as he seeks to become the first non-native manager to win the World Cup.
As we look ahead to next summer’s 48-team tournament, reigning champions Argentina and Euro 2024 winners Spain are the favourites as it stands – and for good reason. Both are winning machines, equally blessed with fantastic individual talent and outstanding cohesion. Furthermore, neither side appears any weaker than when they secured those recent triumphs.
Nevertheless, right now Portugal – alongside fellow hopefuls England and France – have to be considered the best of the rest and also among the likely winners. Their squad speaks for itself, but what they must improve on is their consistency. At the 2022 World Cup under previous boss Fernando Santos, they were free-scoring and formidable until they ran into a stubborn defensive unit of Morocco in the quarter-finals and bowed out. Then at Euro 2024 they again started well before a shock defeat to Georgia was followed by two goalless draws in the knockout stages and elimination to France on penalties. Quite often, the team that goes on to win the World Cup grows into the competition and saves their best for the latter stages. With an extra round to negotiate this time that will be even more important, so Portugal will be determined to avoid peaking too soon.
As we saw against Morocco in 2022 and Slovenia at Euro 2024, they have also had problems breaking down well-organised opponents who defend in numbers. It can be said that they are better equipped than ever to overcome such obstacles, although that problem almost resurfaced in a recent qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland where the Selecao needed a last-gasp goal to win 1-0. But they also know that they are a match for the very best, with that penalty shootout win over Spain to win the Nations League in June sure to give them added belief.
Of course, there is another, much more poignant reason why winning the World Cup would mean everything to Portugal. Lifting the Nations League was Diogo Jota’s final act on the footballing arena before tragically losing his life just days later. An immensely popular member of the squad who brought even more energy and firepower to the table, the former Liverpool star will be very much in their minds throughout next summer’s campaign.
Many of the tipsters might be backing Argentina and Spain for the top step of the podium when the time arrives in New Jersey on July 19, but one increasingly gets the sense that 2026 could well be Portugal’s year to lift the World Cup. They have the depth, they have the tactical fluidity, and boy do they have the motivation. And in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, well sometimes in football certain things are just meant to be.
