Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup chance with Portugal could be his best - but Roberto Martinez must manage him
Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have one of the strongest squads at the 2026 World Cup. In conversation with Carlos Carvalhal, Adam Bate looks at the strengths and weaknesses of Roberto Martinez's squad and whether a poignant victory is possible...
Thursday 11 June 2026 09:21, UK
The nation with the most representatives in Paris Saint-Germain’s starting line-up for the 2026 Champions League final were Portugal, just as they had been when Luis Enrique’s team won in 2025. These are World Cup dark horses no more.
It is not just Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes. Roberto Martinez can call upon Bruno Fernandes, the Premier League player of the year, as well as the great Bernardo Silva. Up front Portugal will once again be captained by Cristiano Ronaldo.
As such, it isn't quite appropriate to call this a golden generation. It is a squad that spans generations - Joao Neves and Ronaldo are born two decades apart, for example. Martinez's task is pull it all together. Do it right and Portugal can win this World Cup.
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"In theory, we have one of the best opportunities," Carlos Carvalhal tells Sky Sports. "I am not so optimistic to say that we are favourites. There are other teams of very high quality. I am not saying we are better than these teams but we are not worse either."
The former Premier League manager, who was most recently in charge at Braga, is working as an analyst on Portuguese television at this World Cup and likes the blend of the squad. "You can see the humility of Vitinha, of Joao Neves. I like the environment."
Portugal won Euro 2016 under the long-serving coach Fernando Santos, but there was always a nagging sense that his teams were a little too limited, that they might be capable of more. Martinez has shown that a more progressive approach is possible.
"The coach has developed this kind of game and we have players who understand the game very well too. Look at the three players in the centre of the pitch. I believe that they will play Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes there. They all understand football.
"Look at Bernardo, for example, who I believe will play more on the right, on the inside. We are talking about four players that we can put on the pitch with such a level of understanding of the game that they are like teachers at university, this kind of level.
"We have fantastic players and a very good coach which means we can change positions, move, create exciting football and dominate games. I believe that we will do that. I would put my expectations not high but, yes, medium to high," says Carvalhal.
Ronaldo conundrum is key
Although it is a star-studded squad, one that includes a fourth PSG player in Goncalo Ramos, one man still looms over the rest. Now 41, the Ronaldo question will continue to dominate even if Martinez has been steadfast in his support of the legendary forward.
It was at the last World Cup that Ramos appeared to have ousted Ronaldo, scoring a hat-trick against Switzerland after coming into the team in the knockout stages. But the youngster then blanked as they were eliminated by Morocco and the coach was sacked.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, goes on and on. He has scored 25 goals in his last 30 appearances for Portugal to justify Martinez's faith but there are signs of greater pragmatism. Hints that there is an awareness some accommodation must be made.
At Euro 2024, Ronaldo played the full 120 minutes in back-to-back knockout games. In last year's Nations League Finals, he was at least substituted after scoring as Portugal found a way past hosts Germany and reigning European champions Spain to triumph.
An understanding, perhaps, that Ronaldo need not play every minute? "I believe it will not change too much," says Carvalhal. "He is still an important player to Portugal. I am absolutely sure that he will play from the beginning of all the World Cup games."
He explains: "The coach knows that Cristiano really wants to do something extraordinary and he wants a lot to be a world champion. The coach knows the influence that he has on other players, how he can push them with his mentality."
But can Ronaldo play every minute of five knockout games in little over a fortnight? "The physical situation, if you ask me, the coach can manage better Cristiano. Do not play him every minute. Understand that he will be important for the next game."
Carvalhal adds: "Maybe he can play just 60 or 70 minutes. This is the theory. But it is important that Ronaldo understands this. In practice, if Ronaldo feels in good condition to play 90 minutes in every game, then he will want to help the team be champions."
If there is another concern, it is a possible lack of pace in the centre of defence. "We must be careful in the transition," concedes Carvalhal. "We will have a lot of the ball in most of the games so that moment when we lose the ball is going to be important.
"There are teams at the World Cup with fast players who can damage us if the team is not balanced all the time. On the defensive transition, we must be better than we have been in the past in those situations because offensively we are a very good team now."
Poignant Portugal victory?
If Portugal are to win the World Cup for the first time, it would be particularly poignant given the loss of Diogo Jota. That Nations League triumph was the last match that he played before he died and the team have been careful to honour him since his passing.
When the World Cup squad was announced, they did so with a plus one. Jota will be there in spirit as Portugal attempt to make history. They have won other tournaments but the third-place finish with Eusebio in 1966 remains there best World Cup outing yet.
In a group that pits them against Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia, the temptation already is to look at Portugal going deep into this tournament. "I prefer to keep my feet on the ground," says Carvalhal. But that is difficult when the squad is as strong as this.
