CR7 and Portugal are already preparing for Estadio Banorte: the list of 26 convocations

With the opening of Banorte Stadium just weeks away, Portugal’s national team is expected to be one of the main attractions of the event. The possible participation of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Mexico vs. Portugal friendly has generated great excitement among Mexican fans. According to ESPN reports, Portuguese coach Roberto Martínez already has a roster of 26 players who will compete in this warm-up match for the 2026 World Cup.

Will CR7 arrive in Mexico for the match against Portugal?

The news circulated when it was confirmed that Mexico would face the Portuguese team as part of their preparation strategy to co-host the tournament with the United States and Canada. Since then, ticket sales have been steady due to interest in seeing Al-Nassr’s star on Mexican soil. Sources consulted by reporters like ESPN’s León Lecanda indicate that CR7 will be included in the squad along with other prominent players such as Vitinha from PSG, João Félix from Al-Nassr, and Rúben Dias from Manchester City.

Portugal’s coach Roberto Martínez already has a list of players who will not only play in this friendly but also form part of the preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup. The official confirmation of these names will come in the coming weeks as the March FIFA dates approach.

Portugal’s 26 players called up to face Mexico

The Portuguese team will present a balanced structure: three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders, and eight forwards. Here is the full breakdown:

Goalkeepers

• Diogo Costa (FC Porto)
• José Sá (Wolverhampton)
• Rui Tiago (Sporting Club Portugal)

Defenders

• João Cancelo (Barcelona)
• Renato Veiga (Villarreal)
• Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
• Rúben Dias (Manchester City)
• Matheus Nunes (Manchester City)
• António Silva (Benfica)
• Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon)
• Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe)

Midfielders

• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
• Vítor Machado Ferreira “Vitinha” (PSG)
• Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
• Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal FC)
• João Neves (PSG)
• João Palhinha (Tottenham)
• João Carvalho (Estoril Praia)

Forwards

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
• João Félix (Al-Nassr)
• Rafael Leão (Milan)
• Gonçalo Ramos (PSG)
• Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
• Francisco Conceição (Juventus)
• Francisco Trincão (Sporting Lisbon)
• Carlos Forbs (Club Brugge)

Roberto Martínez’s strategy for selecting CR7 and Portugal

During the FIFA World Cup draw, the Portuguese coach was asked about the potential inclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad. Although Martínez neither confirmed nor denied CR7’s presence directly, he hinted that players participating in the preparatory matches would have a better chance of making the final roster for the tournament.

“We have 40 players who could make the World Cup squad, so the two matches in March are crucial for us to reduce the group to 26. These are not just games we play for the sake of playing; they are essential for our preparation,” the coach said in an interview with ESPN.

This statement suggests that participation in the friendly against Mexico will be decisive for Portugal and CR7 to finalize the list of selected players. The Portuguese delegation is expected to arrive in Mexico days before the match, although not necessarily in Mexico City, but in the Riviera Maya, to acclimate to the climate and playing conditions they will face during the 2026 World Cup in U.S. cities like Miami.