The Complete Breakdown of Portugal's World Cup Roster
As the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar, all eyes were on Portugal's national team and their star-studded lineup. Manager Fernando Santos selected a perfect blend of experienced veterans and exciting young talents. Here's the complete Portugal player list with English names that made waves in the tournament:
Goalkeepers:
- Diogo Costa
- Rui Patrício
- José Sá
Defenders:
- João Cancelo
- Rúben Dias
- Pepe
- Nuno Mendes
- Diogo Dalot
- Raphaël Guerreiro
- António Silva
Midfielders:
- Bruno Fernandes
- Bernardo Silva
- João Palhinha
- Rúben Neves
- Matheus Nunes
- William Carvalho
- Otávio
Forwards:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (captain)
- João Félix
- Rafael Leão
- Gonçalo Ramos
- Ricardo Horta
- André Silva
Key Players to Watch
The squad featured several standout performers. Cristiano Ronaldo, playing in his fifth World Cup, remained the team's talisman despite his advancing age. Youngsters like João Félix and Rafael Leão brought fresh energy to the attack, while veterans Pepe and Rui Patrício provided crucial experience.
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias formed the backbone of the team, with their Premier League experience proving invaluable. The emergence of Gonçalo Ramos, who scored a hat-trick against Switzerland, showed Portugal's bright future beyond the Ronaldo era.