Portugal are no longer a team orbiting around Cristiano Ronaldo. They look ready for the post-CR7 era. They are heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026 with arguably the best midfield department — one capable of taking the team all the way.
Portugal are blessed with a comparatively easier group this time, pitted alongside DR Congo, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. None of these teams is a pushover, and the group promises some exciting games with the likes of James Rodríguez, Eldor Shomurodov, and Yoane Wissa in the mix of things. But none of these proven stars is the best their respective teams have to offer! Here is a look at four players who could define the group encounters.
Group I: Uzbekistan, Portugal, Colombia and DR Congo
Uzbekistan: Abdukodir Khusanov:
The Manchester City defender is probably the most familiar face for followers of European football in this Asian squad. More than goals, it could be the grit, tackles, and goal-line clearances of Khusanov that will actually decide the team's fate in the tournament. The 6ft 1in tall 22-year-old is one of the Premier League's fastest players and will look to cause trouble for an ageing Ronaldo and other rival strikers.
The Week had earlier reported that Khusanov’s biggest asset is his tenacity. Encounters with him are known to have left opponents in the French league shaken. If he faces a scenario in which he is not able to physically dominate an opponent, his defensive intelligence, especially his ability to jockey (delay attacks by placing himself between the attacker and the target space), could be handy. He also has sufficient quality on the ball to help initiate attacks.
DR Congo: Noah Sadiki:
Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu, Chancel Mbemba, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all players with ample European experience, but DR Congo's best player of the tournament should be Brussels-born Sadiki. The 21-year-old central midfielder can also operate as a defensive midfielder and a right-back if the situation demands, and is arriving for the World Cup with 2,896 minutes in the Premier League for Sunderland. He is a ball-winning midfielder known for his mobility and tactical intelligence. He has the lungs of a horse, which makes him an asset for the entirety of the game.
Colombia: Luis Díaz:
At 29, Luis Díaz is going to lead the Colombian attack after a trophy-rich season with Bayern Munich. Díaz, as per reports, was the player with the second-most minutes for Bayern (3,977) this past season and decided to take some time off before arriving in Bogotá to join the national camp. The former Liverpool winger managed 26 goals and 23 assists throughout the season for the German side and is in exceptional form.
Portugal: Bruno Fernandes:
PSG's Vitinha was named the official Player of the Match for the 2026 UEFA Champions League final. He has become a world-class, deep-lying playmaker who can control the tempo of the match. He is great at keeping the ball and is unfazed by pressing.
However, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes should be Portugal's most important player. Fernandes is in red-hot form, having won the Premier League’s Player of the Season award and been shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year prize. Likely to be in charge of Portugal's corner kicks, Bruno made history by becoming the first player to register 21 assists in a single Premier League campaign. He snapped the previous all-time record of 20 assists, which was previously shared by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.
