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Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates kick off their World Cup campaign when they take on DR Congo for the very first time this Wednesday.
The current UEFA Nations League holders have never lifted the World Cup trophy and are hoping to deliver the ultimate prize for the iconic Ronaldo at what is expected to be his sixth and final tournament. Despite legitimate questions surrounding his impact at the highest level at this stage of his career, the 41-year-old will spearhead the attack against DR Congo and throughout the competition.
Fortunately, Ronaldo is backed by a squad full of elite talent, particularly in Portugal's engine room, and Roberto Martínez looks set to go with a predictable starting eleven for the tournament opener.
Here's who the Spanish coach could name in Houston.
Portugal Predicted Lineup vs. DR Congo
Pick Your Portugal XI!
GK: Diogo Costa—Portugal's undisputed first choice dazzled with his penalty-stopping brilliance at Euro 2024 and, as has been the case before, could attract significant transfer attention this summer.
RB: João Cancelo—Cancelo, who remains firmly on Barcelona's radar following an impressive loan stint at Camp Nou, will be expected to contribute offensively from the right back position.
CB: Rúben Dias—Dias may not be the commanding force he was during his early days at Manchester City and with Portugal, but his leadership and experience remain undeniable assets.
CB: Gonçalo Inácio—The Sporting CP centre-back will be charged with neutralizing Yoane Wissa and/or Cédric Bakambu at NRG Stadium—a challenge well within his capabilities.
LB: Nuno Mendes—The dynamic Paris Saint-Germain left back will be crucial to Portugal unlocking a disciplined and defensively compact DR Congo side. Mendes has the ability to create numerical advantages with his surging runs forward.
DM: Vitinha—The finest holding midfielder on the planet will showcase his talents as he arrives at the World Cup fresh from yet another Champions League triumph with PSG. Portugal will rely heavily on his sharp, incisive distribution on Wednesday.
DM: João Neves—Having built a remarkable partnership at PSG, Neves and Vitinha arguably represent the finest double pivot in the entire tournament.
RW: Bernardo Silva—Rafael Leão's ill-judged red card against Chile ahead of the World Cup may have effectively secured Silva's starting berth. His creativity, technical quality and adaptability are priceless to Portugal, enabling fluid positional rotations and allowing Cancelo to push forward down the right flank.
AM: Bruno Fernandes—After registering 21 Premier League assists last season, Fernandes is rightly regarded as Portugal's primary playmaker. The 31-year-old is performing at the very top of his game and could be the driving force behind a deep run this summer.
LW: Pedro Neto—Neto has found goals hard to come by at Chelsea over the past six months, but netting in Portugal's pre-tournament friendly victory over Nigeria should provide a timely boost to his confidence.
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo—Ronaldo has one singular objective in North America: lift the World Cup. Adding to his record haul of 143 international goals would simply be the icing on the cake.