For decades, Portugal travelled to World Cups carrying hope, talent, and one transcendent superstar. In 2026, they arrive carrying something different: perhaps the deepest and most complete squad in their footballing history.
This is not merely a team built around Cristiano Ronaldo. It is a team that has evolved beyond him.
Under Roberto Martínez, Portugal have assembled a squad that combines the experience of established veterans with a new generation of elite performers who are now among the best in Europe. From midfield architects to modern defenders and explosive wingers, A Seleção possesses a level of depth that previous Portuguese sides could only dream of.
The irony, however, is that as Portugal approach what may be their greatest opportunity to win a first World Cup, the biggest conversation continues to revolve around a 41-year-old icon whose shadow still stretches across every tactical discussion.
The Most Star-Studded Portugal Squad of the Century
Since the turn of the century, Portugal have produced remarkable teams.
There was Luís Figo's generation, which reached the Euro 2004 final. There was the Cristiano Ronaldo-led side that finally conquered Europe in 2016. There were talented squads that promised much but often lacked balance or depth.
This group feels different.
Roberto Martínez's 27-man squad is arguably the most star-studded Portugal have ever taken into a major tournament. More importantly, it may also be the most balanced.
The evidence lies not only in reputation but in contemporary achievement. While Cristiano Ronaldo failed to feature in the Ballon d'Or top 30 for a third consecutive year, Portugal's new standard-bearers are flourishing at the highest level. Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and João Neves all earned places among football's elite after playing pivotal roles in Paris Saint-Germain's historic treble-winning campaign.
For perhaps the first time in the Ronaldo era, Portugal's brightest stars are not defined by their connection to Cristiano. They are stars in their own right.
Midfield: Portugal's Greatest Weapon
If tournaments are won by controlling matches rather than merely surviving them, Portugal possess a decisive advantage.
Their midfield may be the most complete unit in international football.
Vitinha has emerged as one of Europe's finest tempo-setters, capable of dictating rhythm under pressure while progressing possession through the thirds. João Neves provides relentless energy, tactical intelligence, and defensive coverage. Ahead of them operates Bruno Fernandes, arguably the creative heartbeat of the side.
Fernandes enters the World Cup at the peak of his powers. His combination of vision, goalscoring threat, and chance creation gives Portugal a weapon few nations can match. Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, remains one of football's most intelligent technicians, capable of transforming games from multiple positions.
Tournament football is often decided by control. Teams that dominate possession, manipulate space, and dictate tempo usually advance deep into competitions.
In that regard, Portugal's midfield is not merely competitive, it is potentially tournament-defining.
Strength in Depth: A Luxury Portugal Rarely Enjoyed
Historically, Portugal's problem was never talent.
It was what happened when the starting eleven needed help.
That concern barely exists today.
The introduction of five substitutions has transformed modern tournament football, making squad depth more valuable than ever. Portugal can replace elite players with more elite players.
Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, Samu Costa and João Félix offer Martínez tactical flexibility few coaches possess. Félix, rejuvenated by recent performances, provides creativity between the lines while also functioning as a secondary striker.
For the first time in a major tournament, Portugal may possess a bench capable of changing games rather than merely protecting leads.
Defensive Maturity and Modern Full-Backs
At the back, Portugal combine physical authority with technical sophistication.
Rúben Dias remains the defensive leader, bringing organization, aggression and experience. Alongside him, Gonçalo Inácio offers composure in possession and progressive passing, while Renato Veiga and Tomás Araújo provide valuable depth.
The full-back positions may be even more impressive.
Nuno Mendes has developed into one of the world's premier left-backs, blending athleticism with attacking quality. On the opposite flank, Diogo Dalot provides defensive reliability, while João Cancelo offers an entirely different profile—one built on creativity, invention and positional fluidity.
Behind them stands Diogo Costa, one of Europe's finest goalkeepers and a symbol of Portugal's evolution into a modern footballing power.
The Ronaldo Paradox
Yet every discussion about Portugal eventually returns to the same question.
What role should Cristiano Ronaldo play?
At 41, he remains football's ultimate survivor. His longevity is unprecedented. His goalscoring record, approaching 1,000 career goals, belongs to a realm beyond ordinary measurement.
Martínez remains unwavering in his faith.
"We manage the Cristiano Ronaldo that plays for the national team, not the iconic figure," the Spanish coach recently insisted.
And there is logic behind that faith.
Even now, Ronaldo remains an elite penalty-box striker. His movement continues to create space for teammates. His aerial presence remains formidable. His leadership carries immense symbolic weight within the dressing room.
But symbolism and sentiment do not win World Cups.
The uncomfortable reality is that Ronaldo's influence at the highest level has diminished. While his overall tournament record remains respectable: 22 goals and 10 assists across major competitions, his performances in knockout football tell a different story.
Across eight World Cup knockout matches, Ronaldo has never scored or provided an assist. His last goal in the knockout rounds of a major tournament came during the Euro 2016 semifinal.
The question is not whether Ronaldo remains useful.
The question is whether Portugal can maximize their collective strength while accommodating a player who no longer embodies the relentless pressing and mobility demanded by modern elite football.
This is the challenge that will define Martínez's tournament.
Can Portugal's Attack Deliver?
Ironically, Portugal's biggest concern may not be Ronaldo himself, but the form surrounding him.
Gonçalo Ramos remains a capable alternative and already owns one of the most memorable performances in recent World Cup history, a hat-trick against Switzerland in the 2022 Round of 16. Yet inconsistent minutes at Paris Saint-Germain have slowed his development.
Meanwhile, Rafael Leão and Pedro Neto arrive with questions surrounding their club form and consistency in front of goal.
Portugal possess attacking talent.
Whether they possess attacking certainty remains less clear.
A Team Built to Win
For years, Portugal entered tournaments hoping Cristiano Ronaldo would elevate them beyond their limitations.
In 2026, the equation has reversed.
This squad is strong enough to win regardless of any single individual.
Its midfield is arguably the tournament's finest. Its defense is modern and versatile. Its bench is deeper than any Portugal squad before it.
The ultimate challenge for Roberto Martínez is not building a team around Ronaldo. It is ensuring that Portugal's pursuit of history is not constrained by nostalgia.
The 2026 World Cup may represent Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance on football's grandest stage. It is certainly the last chapter of one of the sport's greatest careers.
But for Portugal, this tournament is about something larger.
It is about whether the nation's most talented generation can finally step out of the shadow of its greatest player and deliver the one prize that has always remained just beyond reach: the World Cup.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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