Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his sixth World Cup appearance at the age of 41, as Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez unveiled a 27-man squad for the upcoming tournament. The squad includes a symbolic “plus one” in honor of the late Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident last July at the age of 28.

Squad Announcement and Tribute

During a press conference at Cidade do Futebol, Martinez confirmed that fourth-choice goalkeeper Ricardo Velho from Genclerbirligi Ankara will accompany the team. However, Velho can only be added to the official 26-man roster if one of the three registered goalkeepers suffers an injury. Martinez expressed the importance of Jota’s memory, stating, “He is our strength, our joy. Losing Diogo was an unforgettable and very difficult moment, but the very next day, it was up to all of us to fight for Diogo’s dream and for the example he always set in our national team.”

Strategic Selection

Portugal, the reigning Nations League champions, will kick off their Group K campaign against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17 in Houston. They will also face Uzbekistan on June 23 and conclude the group stage against Colombia in Miami on June 27. Martinez defended his decision to include four goalkeepers and five fullbacks, emphasizing the complexities of the tournament, including weather and time zone challenges. He noted, “There are positions where we need to have more than two players per position. And we need five fullbacks.”

Martinez highlighted the versatility of players like Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, and Matheus Nunes, while also pointing out the attacking capabilities of Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Francisco Trincao. The team is set to warm up against Chile on June 6 and Nigeria on June 10, with FIFA regulations requiring the squad to be in their Palm Beach training camp at least five days before their opening match.