Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal have won the Nations League in less than three years and are aiming to win their first World Cup title in 2026. The team boasts one of the deepest generations of talent in Europe – beyond the Cristiano Ronaldo era. Group K, featuring DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia, is manageable, and Portugal is ready for the next step.

Manager Roberto Martínez has named four goalkeepers for the Seleção: Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva and Ricardo Velho. Portugal are in Group K alongside the DR Congo, Colombia and Uzbekistan, and are among the serious favourites for the title. In memory of Diogo Jota, who died in a fatal accident in July 2025, the squad officially comprises 26+1 players – a silent tribute to a player who was an integral part of this team.

Costa, aged 26 and born in Rothrist, Switzerland – his father later moved to Portugal, where he ended up at the Porto academy; he has been FC Porto’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper since the 2021/22 season and the clear number one for the national team since 2022. With over 40 international caps, he has become the most reliable constant in Martínez’s system in just a few years. His greatest moment on the international stage to date was the penalty save against Álvaro Morata in the 2025 Nations League final, which helped Portugal win the title. In the current 2025/26 season, he has started in all of Porto’s league matches, achieved a FotMob rating of 7.32 and led Porto to the league title.

Costa embodies the modern goalkeeper: excellent footballing ability, commanding presence in the penalty area, and nerves of steel in crucial moments. His contract with Porto runs until 2030, which is remarkable given the interest from bigger clubs. The 2026 World Cup is his first, and he heads into it with the momentum of a national team in top form.

Sá, 33 years old and born in Braga, is the most experienced goalkeeper in the trio behind Costa, having made over 146 appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers. His career has taken him via Marítimo, FC Porto and, most notably, Olympiacos Piraeus, where he became the undisputed first-choice keeper after winning two Super League titles and moved to Wolves in 2021 for around €8 million. In the Premier League, he established himself over four seasons as a solid top-flight goalkeeper, despite the difficult sporting situation of the club, which was facing relegation. Despite Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League this year, Martínez kept him on, a decision based on loyalty and trust in an experienced backup. At international level, Sá remained in the shadow of Rui Patrício and Costa for a long time; his three international caps reflect his role as a reliable second choice.

Silva, aged 32 and born in Águas Santas near Porto, has arguably put in the most impressive season of all four nominated goalkeepers. After years in Spain – at Nacional, Granada and four seasons with Real Betis, where he won the Copa del Rey in 2022 – he moved to Sporting CP on loan in January 2025, before the transfer was made permanent in the summer of 2025 for €4.7 million. In the 2025/26 season, he made 32 league appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets. He also featured in 11 Champions League matches, including both quarter-final ties against Arsenal. Silva is the third choice, but offers the most complete package of the three.