Portugal’s Best Squad in Decades Could Finally Go All the Way
Cristiano Ronaldo may still command most of the headlines at his sixth and likely final World Cup, but Portugal’s genuine title credentials in 2026 rest on far more than their 41-year-old icon. According to The Guardian, citing the Opta supercomputer, Portugal carry a 7.1% probability of lifting the trophy – placing them fifth in the global pecking order behind Spain (16.0%), France (12.9%), England (10.8%) and Argentina (10.0%).
Portugal’s best-ever World Cup finish remains their third-place in 1966, when Eusébio led them to the semi-finals before they eventually fell to eventual winners England. In recent editions they have been inconsistent: a group-stage exit in 2014 and a last-16 departure in 2018 contrasted sharply with their Euro 2016 triumph. The question heading into this World Cup 2026 hub is whether Roberto Martínez’s free-flowing side can finally bridge that gap.
Fernandes: Record-Breaking Form
Bruno Fernandes arrives in the United States in career-defining form. His 2024–25 Premier League campaign produced nine goals and 21 assists – the most assists in a single Premier League season, edging past Thierry Henry’s 20 in 2002–03 and Kevin De Bruyne’s 20 in 2019–20. He also led the top flight for chances created with 136.
That form has translated internationally of late. In Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier, a 9-1 demolition of Armenia, Fernandes scored a hat-trick and created eight chances. He also contributed three goal involvements across two pre-tournament friendlies against the United States and Chile.
Vitinha: The Engine at PSG and Portugal
Operating just behind Fernandes is Vitinha, arguably the most complete midfielder in Europe right now. The 26-year-old PSG player finished third in the most recent Ballon d’Or rankings and was named player of the match in the Champions League final against Arsenal, completing 141 passes and making 162 touches. Across the full season, he completed more passes (5,234) and more passes in the opposition half (3,001) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.
Martínez’s Attacking Blueprint
Since Martínez took charge in 2023, Portugal have averaged 2.6 goals per game across 39 matches – a total of 100 goals. In World Cup qualifying, they attempted 25 shots per match, more than any other European nation. They did exit Euro 2024 at the quarter-final stage on penalties against France, but responded by winning the Nations League, beating Germany in the semis and Spain in the final.
Keep an eye on the live standings as Portugal’s campaign gets under way – on paper, at least, this is the most dangerous Portugal side in sixty years.