Portugal coach Roberto Martinez don name im provisional squad for di World Cup wey go happen this summer for United States, Mexico and Canada. Di big news na say Cristiano Ronaldo dey inside, and dis one go make am play for record sixth World Cup.
Di 41-year-old forward, wey don score 143 goals for im country and play 226 times, be one of only six men wey don feature for five World Cups. Dat group include im old La Liga rival Lionel Messi, wey also go play for im sixth World Cup after leading Argentina to victory for Qatar four years ago.
Ronaldo, wey don win Ballon d’Or five times, don dey play for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr since January 2023. E dey eligible for all Portugal group games because dem no give am three-match ban after dem send am off for di penultimate World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland for November.
Martinez name squad of “27 players plus one”, wey be reference to former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, wey die for car crash last July. “E be our strength, our joy,” Martinez tok. “Losing Diogo na unforgettable and very difficult moment, but di very next day e dey up to all of us to fight for Diogo dream and for di example wey e always set for our national team. Diogo Jota spirit, strength and example na di plus one and go always be di plus one.”
Di squad also include Bruno Fernandes, wey dey aim to claim di outright record for most assists for a Premier League season as Manchester United play dem final game of di season dis Sunday. Meanwhile, Paris St-Germain quartet Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos go play for Champions League final against Arsenal on 30 May.
Portugal get friendlies against Chile and Nigeria before dem World Cup opener against DR Congo for Houston on 17 June. Dem also go face Uzbekistan for Houston before dem conclude dem Group K campaign against Colombia for Miami.
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi). Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica). Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (Paris St-Germain), Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City). Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (Paris St-Germain).
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