European champions Portugal have announced their roster for a pair of upcoming friendly matches as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Head coach Roberto Martinez has called up 27 players to face Mexico and the United States in exhibition contests this month. Yet, star forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been left off the squad due to a recent injury.
Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, is recovering from a hamstring strain sustained in a match against Al-Feiha in the Roshn Saudi League.
Martinez has assured fans that Ronaldo’s absence from these friendlies is not a long-term concern, stating, “His participation is not in danger,” and noting the player’s excellent physical condition this season. He anticipates Ronaldo will return to training within one to two weeks.
The Portuguese squad features a mix of established stars and emerging talent. Here is the full list of players selected by Martinez:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon).
Defenders: Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), António Silva (Benfica), Tomás Araújo (Benfica).
Midfielders: Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samú Costa (Mallorca), Matheus Fernandes (West Ham), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rodrigo Mora (Porto).
Forwards: Ricardo Horta (Braga), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting Lisbon), João Félix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Sporting Lisbon), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Rafael Leão (Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Gonçalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain).
Portugal will face Mexico on Sunday, March 29th, and the United States on Wednesday, April 1st. These matches provide a valuable opportunity for Martinez to assess his team’s form and experiment with different lineups ahead of the World Cup.
