Sanches and Moutinho miss out as Ronaldo headlines Portugal's World Cup squad

Sanches and Moutinho miss out as Ronaldo headlines Portugal's World Cup squad

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Renato Sanches has been left out of Portugal's World Cup squad, joining the country's second-most capped player Joao Moutinho in missing out on the trip to Qatar.

Sanches has won 32 senior caps for Portugal since his 2016 debut and was named Young Player of the Tournament as Portugal clinched their first major trophy at the European Championship in France that year.

However, since swapping Lille for Ligue 1 rivals PSG this August, Sanches has struggled for game-time, starting just three matches in all competitions and playing a total of 427 minutes.

Fellow PSG midfielders Marco Verratti, Vitinha, Danilo Pereira, Fabian Ruiz, Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Soler have all made more starts this campaign, leaving Sanches out of Fernando Santos' plans.

Sanches' PSG team-mates Vitinha, Pereira and Nuno Mendes have all been included in Portugal's squad for the tournament, where they will face Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea after being drawn into Group H.

Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Moutinho, whose tally of 146 Portugal caps is only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable total of 191, has been overlooked in favour of Wolves team-mates Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes.

Ronaldo will captain Portugal in Qatar, where he will bid to become the first player to score at five separate World Cups.

The 37-year-old is one of just four players to hit the net at four separate editions of the tournament, alongside Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose.

Portugal squad: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Patricio (Roma); Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund); Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), Otavio (Porto), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain), William Carvalho (Real Betis); Andre Silva (RB Leipzig), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafael Leao (Milan), Ricardo Horta (Braga).

More News on this


USA 0-0 Portugal: Reigning champs scrape through to last 16

USA 0-0 Portugal: Reigning champs scrape through to last 16


The United States moved into the last 16 of the World Cup in nervy fashion, finishing as Group E runners-up after a 0-0 draw with Portugal at Auckland’s Eden Park.

The four-time and defending champions would have crashed out with a shock defeat, and breathed a huge sigh of relief when Portugal substitute Ana Capeta’s stoppage-time shot hit the post during a tense finale.

Read more
England U-21s 1-0 Portugal U-21s: Gordon fires Young Lions into semis

England U-21s 1-0 Portugal U-21s: Gordon fires Young Lions into semis


Anthony Gordon’s second goal of the European Championship secured a 1-0 win over Portugal and booked England Under-21s’ place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2017.

The Newcastle winger, operating as a central forward in Lee Carsley’s team, pounced 10 minutes before half-time to clinically finish a good passing move.

Read more
England 0-0 Portugal: Lionesses held to draw in World Cup warm-up

England 0-0 Portugal: Lionesses held to draw in World Cup warm-up


England were unable to make the most of their chances as they were held to a goalless draw by Portugal in their send-off warm-up match at Stadium MK ahead of the Women’s World Cup.

Georgia Stanway sent an effort against the bar, Lucy Bronze’s header hit the post and substitute Alessia Russo was denied by a goalline block as the European champions created a number of opportunities to no avail.

Read more
Icing on the cake – Al Nassr celebrate Ronaldo's record-setting Portugal cap

Icing on the cake – Al Nassr celebrate Ronaldo's record-setting Portugal cap


Al Nassr celebrated Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking Portugal appearance in style.

Given his impeccable commitment to athleticism, Ronaldo might not have dug into the cake he was presented with on Friday.

Read more