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Portugal manager Roberto Martínez has officially named his 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup to be held across Mexico, the United States, and Canada this summer. The announcement included a deeply emotional gesture that paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota.

Following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother André last year, the Portuguese national team decided to honour the former Liverpool forward with a heartfelt “27+1” tribute. Jota, who represented Portugal 49 times and scored 14 international goals, was widely expected to play a key role in this tournament before his untimely death.

Portugal are expected to start their World Cup campaign with FC Porto’s Diogo Costa as the first-choice goalkeeper. Joining him in the goalkeeping department are José Sá from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rui Silva from Sporting CP.

Martínez also opted to include a fourth goalkeeper, Ricardo Velho of Gençlerbirliği, although it remains to be seen what specific role the 27-year-old will play during the tournament.

The defensive lineup features several high-profile names, including Manchester City’s Rúben Dias and Matheus Nunes, along with João Cancelo and Nuno Mendes. However, Bayern Munich’s Raphaël Guerreiro, who participated in Portugal’s last two World Cups, was omitted from this year’s squad.

In midfield, Portugal’s selection boasts exceptional talent with Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and João Neves all included. The midfield unit brings a mix of creativity, control, and experience that could be vital to Portugal’s campaign.

Despite the wealth of options, several established names missed out. Among the notable absentees is João Palhinha, who was one of the standout performers for a struggling Tottenham Hotspur side last season. Martínez also chose to prioritise experience over youth, leaving 21-year-old Mateus Fernandes and 19-year-old Porto prodigy Rodrigo Mora out of the squad.

In attack, the headline inclusion is Cristiano Ronaldo, who will represent Portugal in his sixth World Cup. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to lead the line for his nation. Paris Saint-Germain forward Gonçalo Ramos, 15 years younger than Ronaldo, offers an alternative option through the middle.

Portugal’s wing options are particularly strong, with Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, and Juventus’ Francisco Conceição all included in the travelling party. This attacking lineup also serves as a tribute to Diogo Jota, whose absence is deeply felt within the squad and among fans.

Portugal will kick off their World Cup group stage on July 17th against debutants the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston, Texas. They will remain in Houston for their second match against another World Cup newcomer, Uzbekistan, on June 23rd. The group stage will conclude in Miami, where Portugal face Colombia in what promises to be one of the most exciting fixtures of the opening round.

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP), Ricardo Velho (Gençlerbirliği)

Defenders: Tomás Araújo (Benfica), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe), Renato Veiga (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Samú (Mallorca), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain), Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Francisco Conceição (Juventus), João Félix (Al Nassr FC), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Rafael Leão (Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Gonçalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr FC), Trincão (Sporting CP)