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Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in Roberto Martínez's FIFA World Cup roster -Credit:Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Portugal national team boss Roberto Martínez has named his final roster for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo included as he looks to participate in his record sixth tournament.
The 41-year-old could be the first player to achieve this feat in North America, although Argentina’s Lionel Messi could accomplish the same should he opt to help Lionel Scaloni’s side defend their crown.
Ranked fifth in the world by FIFA heading into the World Cup, Portugal will travel to the newly expanded tournament as one of the favorites alongside the likes of France, Spain, England, and, of course, Argentina.
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Ronaldo will be appearing in his sixth World Cup -Credit
iogo Cardoso - UEFA/UEFA via Getty ImagesDiscussing Ronaldo’s inclusion on Tuesday, Martínez said, via AP, “When we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, we talk about two players.
“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.”
Ronaldo, who currently plys his trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, will not only be looking to add a World Cup trophy to his already burgeoning trophy cabinet, but will also be hoping to increase his records as the all-time leader in men’s international appearances with 226 as well as goals with 143.
Martínez also took a moment to discuss former Liverpool star Diogo Jota, who sadly died aged just 28, alongside his brother André Silva, 25, in a car crash in Spain in July 2025.
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“The final list includes 27 names plus one,” he 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.”
Portugal will be aiming to improve upon their quarter-final exit in Qatar four years ago, which marked their best performance since Germany 2006, when they finished fourth.
Yet to win the World Cup, they will kick off their campaign in Group K against DR Congo on June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, before facing Uzbekistan on the 23, again in Houston.
Their group phase will close out on June 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, against Colombia.
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Martínez paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota as he announced his team -Credit:Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
Full Roster:
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
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