The Portugal national football team is being hailed as one of the strongest contenders for the 2026 World Cup title, thanks to a squad stacked with players who have excelled at their respective clubs this season.

In the 2026 World Cup, the Selecao das Quinas have been placed in Group K alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

Portugal will kick off their campaign at NRG Stadium, facing the DR Congo on Thursday (18 June 2026) at 00.00 WIB.

Heading into the tournament, Portugal come armed with a roster filled with title-winning players from various leagues, making them one of the most talked-about teams ahead of the World Cup.

Several key players have just wrapped up an extraordinary season.

Starting with Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias, who helped Manchester City secure both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.

The Citizens nearly achieved a domestic treble before eventually conceding the Premier League 2025/2026 title race to Arsenal.

Meanwhile, captain Cristiano Ronaldo made history by leading Al Nassr to the Saudi Pro League championship.

Interestingly, the trophy added to Ronaldo’s remarkable collection, making him a league champion in four different countries — after earlier triumphs in England with Manchester United, Spain with Real Madrid, and Italy with Juventus.

His teammate at Al Nassr, Joao Felix, also celebrated lifting the Saudi Pro League title this season.

On the other hand, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and Joao Neves impressed by winning both the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain.

From Spain, Joao Cancelo joined the list of Portuguese champions after clinching the La Liga title with Barcelona.

Back home, goalkeeper Diogo Costa guided FC Porto to the Liga Portugal title.

Beyond collective success, individual performances have also stood out. Bruno Fernandes made Premier League history with 21 assists in a single season.

With a combination of experienced veterans, promising young talents, and outstanding club performances, Portugal enter the 2026 World Cup with one of the most accomplished squads in international football.

Featuring a line-up full of world-class players, the Portuguese squad also boasts an impressive market value.

According to Transfermarkt data, Portugal rank as the fourth most expensive squad at the 2026 World Cup, with a total valuation of approximately Rp17.4 trillion.

The most valuable Portuguese players are Vitinha and Joao Neves, each valued at Rp2.4 trillion.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41 years old, has seen his market value decline to around Rp173 billion.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo’s presence continues to draw attention, as CR7 remains a central figure with a significant impact both on and off the pitch.

His popularity remains immense — Ronaldo’s name continues to drive jersey sales in sports stores, including in Semarang.

Fandi, owner of Cybersoccer Store Ungaran, revealed that sales interest has been rising sharply over the past few months.

He explained that many customers have been purchasing early to avoid potential price increases typically seen as the World Cup approaches.

“The excitement has been building for several months now. Many customers prefer buying early because they worry prices will rise once the tournament begins,” said Fandi, as reported by Tribun Jateng.

He added that jerseys of top teams remain the most sought-after items. Argentina, Portugal, and Germany have recorded the highest demand leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

According to Fandi, Argentina’s popularity is driven by Lionel Messi, who is expected to play his final World Cup tournament.

The same applies to Portugal, whose popularity has soared thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also believed to be competing in his last World Cup.

“Fans are buying Argentina jerseys as keepsakes since it’s likely Messi’s final World Cup. Portugal’s sales are also strong because of Ronaldo. And Germany always has a loyal fan base and remains one of the tournament favourites,” he concluded.