Lisbon
Portugal’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup took on an emotional tone this week as the national team unveiled its squad numbers, with midfielder Ruben Neves set to wear the iconic No. 21 jersey previously worn by his late friend and teammate Diogo Jota.
The gesture served as a touching tribute to Jota, who tragically lost his life in a road accident last year. His memory continues to resonate strongly within the Portuguese squad, and the decision to hand his jersey number to one of his closest friends in the team highlighted the lasting impact he had on his teammates.
During Portugal’s training session on Tuesday, the announcement drew widespread attention, particularly after Neves had spoken about Jota’s enduring presence within the squad during a press conference a day earlier. The midfielder said the forward’s spirit remains an inspiration as Portugal prepares for another major international campaign.
Alongside Neves’ assignment of the No. 21 shirt, Portugal also confirmed the jersey numbers for the rest of the squad. Matheus Nunes will wear No. 6, while Tomas Araujo has been assigned No. 4 and Nuno Mendes will sport No. 25. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa will continue with No. 1, while captain Cristiano Ronaldo retains his famous No. 7 jersey.
Other key players include Bruno Fernandes with No. 8, Goncalo Ramos with No. 9, Bernardo Silva with No. 10 and Joao Felix with No. 11.
The upcoming tournament will hold special significance for Ronaldo, who is set to make his sixth FIFA World Cup appearance. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, the 41-year-old remains in pursuit of the one major trophy missing from his remarkable collection. Having already won the UEFA European Championship and UEFA Nations League with Portugal, Ronaldo will be aiming to crown his international career with World Cup glory.
His confidence is expected to be high after helping Al Nassr secure the Saudi Pro League title with another prolific season.
Portugal will fine-tune their preparations with friendly matches against Chile on June 6 and Nigeria on June 10 before beginning their World Cup campaign against Congo on June 17. They will then face Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27 in their remaining group-stage fixtures.
For Portugal, the tournament begins with both ambition and emotion, carrying the memory of Diogo Jota while chasing football’s greatest prize.