LISBON — Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make a record sixth World Cup appearance after being included in Portugal's squad for the tournament on Tuesday, while coach Roberto Martínez included the late Diogo Jota as a "plus one forever" in a tribute to the player who died last year.
The Final List: 27 Names Plus One
"The final list includes 27 names plus one," Martínez said. "To lose Diogo Jota was an unforgettable moment and a very difficult moment. But the next day it was a responsibility for all of us to fight for Diogo Jota's dream and for the example that he was in our national team."
The 28-year-old Jota, a regular in Portugal's squad, was killed in a car crash in Spain last July. "He will be the plus one forever," Martínez added.
Ronaldo's Final World Cup Bid
It will likely be Ronaldo's final attempt at winning soccer's most coveted trophy — his first World Cup since leaving elite soccer in Europe to play in Saudi Arabia.
"When we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, we talk about two players," Martínez said. "We talk about the icon of world soccer and we talk about the player, our captain, who has the same demands as the other players."
Ronaldo is the all-time leader in appearances (226) and goals (143) for a men's national team. He is also the only man to have scored in five World Cups.
Tournament Schedule
Portugal is in Group K along with Colombia, Uzbekistan and Congo. The team opens against Congo on June 17 in Houston.
Portugal will begin its preparations on June 1, with warmup matches against Chile on June 6 and Nigeria on June 10, before traveling to the United States on June 12.
Squad Details
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velho (Gençlerbirliği)
Defenders: Rúben Dias (Manchester City), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomás Araújo (Benfica)