Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes is the Portugal vice-captain, named in Roberto Martínez's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on 19 May 2026 and listed in the Seleção's midfield group alongside Bernardo Silva, Rúben Neves, Vitinha, João Neves and Samú Costa. The Manchester United attacking midfielder is 31 at kick-off and brings 87 senior Portugal caps and 28 international goals, as of 1 April 2026, into the tournament, making this his third senior World Cup after Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Portugal face DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K, opening against DR Congo at NRG Stadium in Houston on 17 June. Martínez's side won UEFA Group F to qualify on 16 November 2025, with Bruno confirmed as vice-captain and part of the midfield group.

Bruno Fernandes is a direct, energetic box-to-box playmaker with creative output, vision, goalscoring ability and passing. He boasts a prolific midfield goalscoring record, shoots from outside the box, and handles free-kicks and penalties for Portugal — 28 international goals as of 1 April 2026 from an attacking-midfielder role.

He can also play as a deeper central midfielder, a second striker, or on the right wing through his crossing. Martínez's possession-heavy 4-2-3-1 leans on Portugal's 71.0% qualifying share, with Bruno's role centred on chance creation and arrival in the final third.

Portugal sit in Tier 2 at £24m within the game's £200m card budget — a second-tier call rather than a premium top-band slot. The Group K draw against DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia frames the early fixture window, with Martínez's 4-2-3-1 and the UEFA Group F qualifying run setting the team-slot context.

Bruno Fernandes pays back Portugal's £24m midfield slot through set-piece volume — free-kicks and penalties as vice-captain — plus an attacking-midfielder profile with 28 international goals; the direct contribution from the half-spaces when Martínez starts him.