00:02Portugal's best footballers are among the greatest of all time.
00:07From Eusebio to Luis Figo and the incomparable Cristiano Ronaldo.
00:16But for all the talent, the World Cup has rarely proved a happy hunting ground.
00:23Maiden qualification didn't arrive until 1966 and there was only one further appearance in the 20th century.
00:33Since 2002 and the arrival of Portugal as a footballing powerhouse, participation has been assured.
00:41But only twice has the round of 16 been breached.
00:46Most of this era has focused on Ronaldo.
00:49But the living legend has yet to enjoy a defining World Cup campaign.
00:55Thought he won in North America, this will be his final opportunity to compete on the game's greatest stage.
01:03And it should also be his best.
01:06Portugal have never sent a deeper squad to a major tournament.
01:13There's the quartet that made Paris Saint-Germain European champions.
01:17The trio of Manchester City stars hand-picked by Pep Guardiola.
01:22And the standout performers for both Manchester United and AC Milan.
01:29All the while, the production line of talent keeps delivering.
01:33With the likes of Giovanni Quenda and Rodrigo Moura waiting to add an element of surprise.
01:42As well as excelling at club level, this group has international pedigree.
01:47Celebrating victory in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final.
01:51And topping an awkward World Cup qualification group.
01:58If there is any doubt over Portugal's fortunes, it is in the dugout.
02:07Roberto Martinez was a surprise replacement for the long-serving Fernando Santos in 2023.
02:13The Spaniard had a modest managerial career in England before assuming control of the greatest collection of talent in Belgium's
02:21history.
02:22But failed to secure any silverware during his six-year tenure.
02:29His bosses at the Portuguese Football Federation will be hoping history does not repeat.
02:37We need to prepare well for the World Cup.
02:40As for expectations, we will give our all to reflect the values of the Portuguese people.
02:45And our national team does that with a lot of talent, a lot of desire, and by giving their all.
02:51We will try to win the World Cup, but it has never been done before.
02:55So it's not easy.
02:56There are many teams and the best players in the world.
02:59There are many teams and the best players in the world.
03:06Diego Costa is Portugal's undisputed number one.
03:10Earmarked for greatness since his teens, the 26-year-old is now captain of boyhood side Porto.
03:18Rui Silva and Jose Saar are experienced understudies.
03:29The rock at the heart of the Portuguese defence is Manchester City linchpin Ruben Diaz.
03:38Gonzalo Inácio is his usual partner.
03:41But Renato Vega has also been trusted with that responsibility.
03:48Joao Cancelo and Nuna Mendes occupy the full-back roles,
03:51with Nelson Semedo and Diogo Dalho providing excellent strength in depth.
04:03Vicinho, who came third in the 2025 Ballon d'Or, is the man around whom Portugal will base their midfield.
04:10He will be joined in a double pivot by either clubmate Joao Neves or the more experienced Ruben Neves.
04:19Head of them is the creative energy and fierce drive of Bruno Fernandes.
04:30The three-man attack is built around the totemic Ronaldo.
04:34Despite his advancing age, he found the back of the net five times during qualification,
04:39to push his record of international goals into the 140s.
04:44The deeper Portugal venture in North America, the more will be made of Ronaldo's opportunity to emulate long-standing rival
04:52Lionel Messi,
04:53who capped his brilliant career with a winner's medal at Qatar 2022.
05:00He's a unique player. There's no other player with more than 200 international caps for his country.
05:07So I think we can all see his passion and understand what it means to him to wear the shirt.
05:13He's an example.
05:17To Ronaldo's left will be the craft and subtlety of Bernardo Silva, and to his right, the trickery of Pedro
05:25Neto.
05:27Joao Félix, Rafael Leal, and Francisco Conceição will all be determined to make an impact off the bench,
05:35while Gonzalo Ramos will be ready to deputise for Ronaldo should the moment come.
05:42The Portuguese squad will be one of the most feared of the World Cup, packed full of experience, character and
05:49creativity,
05:50and fuelled by the desire to send captain Cristiano Ronaldo into retirement with the greatest honour in the game.
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