Portugal names provisional 30-man World Cup squad
Cristiano Ronaldo and 29 other players.
That's the way most people will look at Tuesday's announcement of Portugal's provisional World Cup squad. Unfair to a host of other talented stars? Absolutely. But such is the stardom of the Real Madrid winger.
Despite the fact that he has proven himself capable of winning important matches all by himself in the past (see: destruction of Sweden) Ronaldo will have some impressive talent around him come the World Cup, with creative midfielder João Moutinho chief among those men.
Out on the wing, where the Iberian country has a propensity for producing fantastic talent, the renaissance of winger Ricardo Quaresma continues, as the Porto winger - who is now 30 years old - is among the players in contention for a place on Paulo Bento's final 23-man squad.
Seldom-used Manchester United winger Nani is also in contention for a spot on the final roster.
Portugal's greatest strength may in fact be in defense, where the familiarity between the back-four of Fabio Coentrao, Pepe, Bruno Alves and Joao Pereira is second-to-none in international football.
At the end of the day, the Portuguese squad essentially picks itself.
Only surprise omission for me is Josué, meaning Benfica's André Gomes will surely be in Brazil. Can't believe Bento will select João Mário.
— Tom Kundert (@Portu_Goal) May 13, 2014
Here's the full 30-man squad:
Goalkeepers
Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Sevilha), Eduardo (SC Braga) e Rui Patrício (Sporting)
Defenders
André Almeida (Benfica), Antunes (Málaga), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), João Pereira (Valência), Neto (Zenit), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Costa (Valência), Rolando (Inter)
Midfielders
André Gomes (Benfica), João Mário (Vitória FC), João Moutinho (Mónaco), Miguel Veloso (D. Kiev), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahçe), Rúben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting)
Forwards
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Éder (SC Braga), Hélder Postiga (Lazio), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Ivan Cavaleiro (Benfica), Nani (Manchester United), Rafa (SC Braga), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg)
Portugal find themselves in Group G, alongside Germany, Ghana and the United States.