The Euro 2016 winners are used to dealing with the pressure that comes with having a strong squad, and after all, any team with Cristiano Ronaldo can be considered among the favorites.
All over the pitch, this team is blessed by big names, who play their trade in Europe’s major leagues. We can look forward to solid performances from the likes of Man City’s João Cancelo and AC Milan’s Rafa Leão amongst many more.
26 players will make the final squad and travel to the 2022 World Championship, led by National Team Captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s most decorated player ever.
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota will be a notable absence due to injury, but the talent that manager Fernando Santos has at his disposal is excellent:
This prospective squad is a balance of youth and experience, and a handful of these players conquered Europe in 2016, so their experience will be the key to Portugal’s success in. Their defense is solid, however, it must be said that the midfield lacks balance. The lack of game time Cristiano Ronaldo is getting at Manchester United is a concern, but one of the greatest of all times knows how to step up and when. Drafting Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton can be a key to the team’s transitional play. It’s a top-heavy side, so Portugal fans can hope for lots of goals, especially on the counter-attack.
Players List
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Rui Patricio | Roma (ITA) | 34 | 104 |
| GK | 12 | Jose Sa | Wolves (ENG) | 29 | 0 |
| GK | 22 | Diogo Costa | Porto (POR) | 23 | 7 |
| DEF | 3 | Pepe | Porto (POR) | 39 | 128 |
| DEF | 6 | Raphael Guerreiro | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 28 | 56 |
| DEF | 2 | Diogo Dalot | Manchester United (ENG) | 23 | 6 |
| DEF | 24 | Antonio Silva | Benfica (POR) | 19 | 0 |
| DEF | 4 | Ruben Dias | Manchester City (ENG) | 25 | 39 |
| DEF | 19 | Nuno Mendes | PSG (FRA) | 20 | 16 |
| DEF | 13 | Danilo Pereira | PSG (FRA) | 31 | 63 |
| DEF | 20 | Joao Cancelo | Manchester City (ENG) | 28 | 37 |
| MID | 25 | Otavio | Porto (POR) | 27 | 7 |
| MID | 6 | Joao Palhinha | Fulham (ENG) | 27 | 15 |
| MID | 8 | Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United (ENG) | 28 | 48 |
| MID | 23 | Matheus Nunes | Wolves (ENG) | 24 | 9 |
| MID | 14 | William Carvalho | Real Betis (ESP) | 30 | 75 |
| MID | 16 | Vitinha | PSG (FRA) | 22 | 4 |
| MID | 17 | Joao Mario | Benfica (POR) | 29 | 52 |
| MID | 18 | Ruben Neves | Wolves (ENG) | 25 | 32 |
| FWD | 10 | Bernardo Silva | Manchester City (ENG) | 28 | 72 |
| FWD | 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United (ENG) | 37 | 191 |
| FWD | 21 | Ricardo Horta | Braga (POR) | 28 | 5 |
| FWD | 15 | Rafael Leao | AC Milan (ITA) | 23 | 11 |
| FWD | 11 | Joao Felix | Atletico Madrid (ESP) | 22 | 23 |
| FWD | 26 | Goncalo Ramos | Benfica (POR) | 21 | 0 |
| FWD | 9 | Andre Silva | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 51 |
Can Portugal win the World Championship 2022?
Absolutely, why not? Anything can happen in football, particularly when you have such a talented crop of players. You can expect Portugal to emerge safely from Group H, and should they finish in the top spot their chances of meeting a weaker opponent in the Round of the Last 16 will be strong.
From then on, it’s a lottery. Quarter Finals are never an easy affair, but in knock-out competitions, anything can happen. We’re all dreaming of a Cristiano Ronaldo v Leo Messi final in the World Championship, afterall!
Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, England, France, Spain and Germany are always among the favorites, and it’s not wise to leave out Portugal from that list. This squad is full of league winners, who will bring that winning mentality to their national team. It’s a team which is hungry, united and somewhat underrated – Yes, Portugal can win the World Championship this December.
