Portugal
Coach: Roberto Martínez
Starting XI Prediction
Star Players
All Players →
Fixtures
Group K
Group K
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 7 |
| 2 | Portugal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 |
| 3 |  DR Congo | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| 4 |  Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
Full Squad Players List
| # | Player | Pos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | Diogo CostaXI FC Porto | GK | |
| 12 | José Sá Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | GK | |
| 22 | Rui Silva Sporting CP | GK | |
| Defenders | |||
| 2 | Nélson Semedo Fenerbahçe SK | DEF | |
| 3 | Rúben DiasXI Manchester City FC | DEF | |
| 4 | Tomás Araújo SL Benca | DEF | |
| 5 | Diogo Dalot Manchester United FC | DEF | |
| 13 | Renato Veiga Villarreal CF | DEF | |
| 14 | Gonçalo InácioXI Sporting CP | DEF | |
| 20 | João CanceloXI FC Barcelona | DEF | |
| 24 | Samú Costa RCD Mallorca | DEF | |
| 25 | Nuno MendesXI Paris Saint-Germain | DEF | |
| Midfielders | |||
| 6 | Matheus Nunes Manchester City FC | MID | |
| 8 | Bruno FernandesXI Manchester United FC | MID | |
| 10 | Bernardo SilvaXI Manchester City FC | MID | |
| 15 | João NevesXI Paris Saint-Germain | MID | |
| 21 | Rúben Neves Al Hilal SC | MID | |
| 23 | Vitinha Paris Saint-Germain | MID | |
| Forwards | |||
| 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo Al Nassr FC | FWD | |
| 9 | Gonçalo RamosXI Paris Saint-Germain | FWD | |
| 11 | João Félix Al Nassr FC | FWD | |
| 16 | Francisco Trincão Sporting CP | FWD | |
| 17 | Rafael LeãoXI AC Milan | FWD | |
| 18 | Pedro Neto Chelsea FC | FWD | |
| 19 | Gonçalo Guedes Real Sociedad | FWD | |
| 26 | Francisco ConceiçãoXI Juventus FC | FWD | |
World Cup History
—
Titles
9
Appearances
72
WC Goals
26
Wins
Best finish: 3rd place (1966)
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (8 goals)
Most capped: Cristiano Ronaldo (22 matches)
Record: 26W – 10D – 17L
Portugal have one of football's great dualities — Eusébio's 1966 brilliance (9 goals, third place) and Cristiano Ronaldo's era of consistent excellence without the ultimate prize. With 9 World Cup appearances, they have consistently reached the knockout rounds under different generations. Ronaldo, at his likely final World Cup in 2026, will aim to end a career with the one trophy that eluded him.
Tournament Eras
Eusébio's Tournament — 1966
1966Portugal's first World Cup appearance was their greatest. Eusébio — the 'Black Panther' from Mozambique — scored nine goals including four against North Korea in a stunning comeback from 3-0 down. Portugal beat Brazil and the Soviet Union and reached the semi-finals before losing to hosts England. They placed third. Eusébio is still considered the greatest Portuguese footballer of all time by many.
The Figo Generation — 2002 and 2006
2002–2006Led by Luís Figo, Portugal reached the semi-finals in Euro 2000 and the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002. In 2006 — with Figo, Ronaldo, Deco, and Maniche — they placed fourth, losing a bruising semi-final to France. Pauleta and Maniche scored memorable goals in a team considered one of the most technically gifted in Europe.
The Ronaldo Era
2006–2022Cristiano Ronaldo's era brought Portugal consistent but ultimately unfulfilled WC performances. They reached the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2018, the quarter-finals in 2022 — where Ronaldo was controversially dropped to the bench. Despite the individual brilliance, Portugal under Ronaldo never matched the 2006 fourth place. The 2026 tournament may be his farewell.
Iconic Moments
Eusébio's Four Goals vs North Korea — 1966
Trailing 3-0 to North Korea at half-time in one of the greatest World Cup shocks in progress, Portugal produced a stunning comeback. Eusébio scored four goals and set up another in a 5-3 win. His celebration after the fourth — running the length of the pitch with joy — is one of football's most iconic images.
Ronaldo vs Spain — The 2018 Hat-Trick
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Spain in a 3-3 draw — including a stunning late free kick to equalise in the 88th minute. The performance was a masterclass in big-game temperament, cementing Ronaldo's status as one of the World Cup's great performers even in a match that ended level.