Roberto Martínez reveals the call-ups for the 2026 World Cup and responds to controversies: Salvador criticizes the absence of Ricardo Horta
Anxiety is growing among football fans as the 2026 World Cup approaches, and the choices of national team coach Roberto Martínez are already causing shockwaves in the Portuguese sports world. This Tuesday, the coach announced the official list of call-ups for the tournament, but he did not escape criticism, particularly from António Salvador, president of Vitória de Guimarães, who questioned the exclusion of Ricardo Horta, one of the standout figures in national football.
Martínez, firm and relentless, responded vehemently to the accusations, making it clear that the decisions made are not the result of emotional impulses, but rather of a rigorous, professional, and calculated process. “First, I respect all the presidents of the clubs of our players. I have the ability to be neutral. I need to make difficult decisions, but I have already said that this is a process. This is not an emotional or intuitive decision; there is a process and very important parameters where the choices are professional and made with great responsibility,” stated the coach, dispelling any notion of favoritism or injustice.
One of the biggest surprises of the announcement was the call-up of midfielder Samu Costa, while Palhinha, a regular in the national team’s midfield, was left out. Regarding this choice, Martínez explained the need for balance between continuity and freshness in the group: “We have often talked about the need for continuity, automatisms, and working on tactical aspects. But we need balance and an open door for new talent, new blood, and to create the equilibrium needed to maintain competitiveness and freshness. Samu Costa brought that during March; I loved his energy, his grit. He is an 8, but he is very dynamic. He arrives in the box, but in the defensive aspect, he is also very important. He fits perfectly with what we need for the World Cup.”
Doubts about the absence of Ricardo Horta and Pedro Gonçalves were also addressed by the Spanish coach. According to Martínez, despite the impressive seasons of these players, the competition is fierce and some names have already taken on established roles in the team: “Ricardo Horta, and to mention one more name, Mateus Fernandes, had incredible seasons. But there are other players ahead. Pedro Gonçalves, Rodrigo Mora, and Ricardo Horta are not in the national team because there are João Félix, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Trincão, who already have a role in the national team.”
Another fundamental point for the composition of the team is the versatility and physical capacity of the selected players. Martínez emphasized the importance of Matheus Nunes, highlighting the demands of modern football, especially for the full-back positions, where endurance and intensity are crucial: “In modern football, with five substitutions… The full-back position is very demanding; physically, you need to give much more. And for us, having the four plus Matheus Nunes is essential and brings balance to what the locker room has.”
With this call-up, Roberto Martínez not only defined his core group for the pursuit of the world title but also made it clear that decisions are based on technical and strategic criteria, dispelling any speculation about favoritism or emotional decisions. The path to the World Cup promises to be intense and competitive, but Portugal is already prepared to fight for the top of world football.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
