Rafael Leão

Rafael Leão is a confirmed forward in Portugal's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on 19 May 2026, named by Roberto Martínez alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix, Gonçalo Guedes, Gonçalo Ramos, Pedro Neto, Francisco Trincão and Francisco Conceição in the forward group. The AC Milan left winger is 27 at kick-off and brings 43 senior Portugal caps and five international goals, as of 16 November 2025, into the tournament, making this his second senior World Cup after 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 NRG Stadium hosting two of Portugal's three group fixtures.

Leão is a tall and lean technical player at 1.88 metres who can play on either flank, with the burst and speed to match his frame. Close-control dribbling, one-versus-one running and changes of pace from the left channel sit at the centre of his profile.

He stretches defences with movements on and off the ball, and his five international goals as of 16 November 2025 come from a left-channel forward role. Inside the box he uses dribbles and movement, and has also played as a striker. In Martínez's 4-2-3-1 he attacks one-versus-one on the left.

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.

Leão is the left-channel breaker behind Portugal's £24m forward slot. Pace, close-control dribbling and one-versus-one running stretch back-fours; he carries five international goals plus a 6-1 round-of-16 finish against Switzerland — the kind of direct wide-forward contribution that swings the slot when Martínez starts him.