Portugal have noticeable disadvantages in attack but their extreme level of talent in the middle of the pitch gives them a clear chance at glory
At the World Cup, in the hyper-capitalist mega razzmatazz that is this summer’s American edition, amid all that smoke and noise, one of the delights of the century awaits the eager spectator.
And no, not Gianni Infantino in a dark suit, white shirt and black tie, at his bald and brilliant best, speaking of the merits of Donald Trump and the Fifa Peace Prize, of war in Palestine, of handshakes between enemies co-ordinated by football’s supreme mugwump.
Nor am I referring to Cristiano Ronaldo, all abs and fitness personified, with cheekbones chiselled like marble, winner of the Saudi Pro League this season, gracing the global stage at the young footballing age of 41. Nor indeed his ever-present destiny-mate Lionel Messi, present again at this World Cup, neither able to escape the other’s shadow.
It is wonderful and oddly thrilling at times to watch Ronaldo play, a mythical beast, with movement choreographed and perfected across two decades, a footballer for whom to score is a kind of default setting. At some point in the recent history of the game, Ronaldo’s shadow must have become a telltale sign, a portent of goals. If you are a goalkeeper, look for that looming 6ft 2in figure, the closer it gets the likelier your chances of conceding.
But the current version of Ronaldo is also a version whose decline has long since been completed. It is hard to pick any quality of the original days that still remains. Certainly not the speed. Hardly the quick feet or the shooting power. Perhaps the heading ability. But then Ronaldo is also now slow and predictable, so maybe not.
Look behind Ronaldo at this summer’s World Cup, however, and you will see a trio of genius-level midfield quality. All hail Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Joao Neves. Legend has it that Neves is still currently in Budapest, still running on the pitch after 120 minutes when all have departed, still defying Arsenal and infuriating Mikel Arteta.
🎶 “Talentos juntos pela mesma missão” ✨🇵🇹#VaiDarPortugal | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uwgrzY7e1r
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 2, 2026
It is difficult to think of a team more blessed than Portugal in midfield at the 2026 World Cup. Spain have Pedri, god-level at his best, and France can perhaps compete with Aurelien Tchouameni and N’Golo Kante or Warren Zaire-Emery in central midfield, Rayan Cherki or Michael Olise ahead of them. England have Declan Rice.
But what incredible performances Portugal’s trio have put together over the past two years. Vitinha and Neves have won the Champions League twice in a row, in perfect sync at the heart of Luis Enrique’s loved-up premium team.
Vitinha is a metronome, out there with the ball under his spell, knitting the attack of the best team in the world together. Neves runs like a man with unlimited fuel, holding the ball in any space, winning it back, snapping at the heels of the opponent, twisting and turning like a veteran, except he is only 21. And Fernandes, a player for whom creation is an art. He finished at 133 chances created in the Premier League last season, almost twice as many as the next man, Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai at 75. To crown it, he broke the assist record set by two undisputed footballing greats in Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) May 23, 2026
This goes without mentioning Bernardo Silva, who was Manchester City’s midfield dynamo for nearly a decade under Pep Guardiola. With this extreme level of talent Portugal would be unquestioned favourites were it not for their attack.
This is a team with the capacity to win things. They were poor at Euro 2024 but in the Nations League last year they beat Germany and then Spain to the trophy. But it is hard to look at them and not see limitations, certainly up front.
Ronaldo will almost certainly dominate the narrative in the Americas. His gravitational pull is impossible to defy. He scored 15 goals in the qualifiers, a good return, even if it does not seriously position him as a net positive for this Portugal side. It is not impossible for one of the greatest players in the history of the game to pull off a surprise and put in an elite, trophy-winning performance, but likelier than not, Portugal’s World Cup hopes will rest on their genius-level midfield trio.
