May 19 (UPI) — Cristiano Ronaldo leads the 27-man Portugal men’s national team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coach Roberto Martinez announced Tuesday.
Ronaldo is to make his sixth appearance in the tournament, the most of any men’s players. Longtime rival Lionel Messi, who is expected to join Argentina for the tournament, also is on track for his sixth World Cup.
Ronaldo, 41, is the only man to score in five separate World Cups. He is Portugal’s all-time leader in appearances (226) and goals (143).
Midfielders Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bernardo Silva and defender Nuno Mendes are among other notable players on the squad.
Joao Felix, Ronaldo’s teammate at Al Nassr, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Goncalo Guedes and Goncalo Ramos joined Ronaldo as forwards selected for the squad.
Ruben Neves and Samuel Costa joined Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes and Silva as the midfielders on the roster.
Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias and Tomas Araujo join Mendes on defense.
Martinez selected Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva and Ricardo Velho as Portugal’s goalies.
The Portuguese, who sit at No. 5 in the FIFA world rankings, have the sixth-best odds to win the 2026 World Cup, according to some sports books.
They will host Chile in a friendly June 6 in Oeiras. They will then host Nigeria in their final pre-tournament friendly June 10 in Leiria.
Portugal will open Group K play against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17 in Houston.