Coach Roberto Martínez announced this Friday Portugal’s squad for the football friendlies against Mexico (March 29) and the United States (April 1) and included some surprises in the last squad before the 2026 World Cup.
The big news is in the attack. Martínez calls on Gonçalo Guedes, Rodrigo Mora, Ricardo Horta, but does not call on any new reference striker. Mateus Fernandes and Samu Costa are highlights in midfield.
Cristiano Ronaldo was absent. The world record holder for caps (226) and goals (143) has not missed a call-up for Portugal since the end of 2018, when he was released by then coach Fernando Santos in the first group stage of the debuting Nations League, to adapt to his new club, Juventus.
Nelson Semedo, a regular presence and also injured at his club, Fenerbahçe, was also left out as expected.
Here is the list of 27 called up:
Goal – Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton) and Rui Silva (Sporting)
Defender – Matheus Nunes (Man. City), António Silva (Benfica), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting), Diogo Dalot (Man. United), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Renato Veiga (Villarreal) and Tomás Araújo (Benfica).
Midfield – Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), Vitinha (PSG), João Neves (PSG) and Bruno Fernandes (Man. United).
Attack – Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting), Ricardo Horta (Braga), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), João Félix (Al-Nassr), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Francisco Trincão (Sporting), Francisco Conceição (Juventus) Gonçalo Ramos (PSG) and Gonçalo Guedes.
At the 2026 World Cup, Portugal is included in Group K, along with Uzbekistan and Colombia and an opponent yet to be defined, which will emerge from the intercontinental play-off between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia.
News update.
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