No player has played more games for Portugal than Cristiano Ronaldo. No player has scored more goals for Portugal than Cristiano Ronaldo. In fact, no active player has more international goals for their country than Cristiano Ronaldo. He is quite simply the best.  After guiding Portugal to their first international title from both on the pitch and on the sidelines, Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down scoring a remarkable 15 goals as Portugal steamrolled into the World Cup. This time, Portugal needed no playoffs and are entering the competition as the current European Champions. 

As Eusebio and Figo did before him it is clear that Ronaldo's exploits have inspired a whole new generation of Portuguese talent.  Players who are brave, exciting and who will be much more prepared to participate than previous generations. AC Milan's Andre Silva did not have the best of debut seasons in Italy but for Portugal, his form has been wonderful. Silva scored 9 goals in Portugal's 10 qualification games, relived some of the burdens for CR7. Bernardo Silva was Pep Guardiola's most used player in a historic Premier League season and it is easy to see why. Silva's velvet-like touch and on the ball composure is impressive for a player so young. PSG owned Goncalo Guedes tormented defences all season in Spain, prompting Valencia to try to sign him permanently. Gelson Martins is maybe the sort after player in the Portuguese League. The winger is a hardworking dribbler who is getting better season after season. Head Coach Fernando Santos has opted for these up and coming talents over the experience of Nani and Barcelona's Andre Gomes, a luxury of choice Portugal did not seem to have before.

From the back, former Real Madrid player, Pepe must demand that the rest of the team raise their level to cover for Portugal's attack. That is most certainly required as much of the rest of the squad are coming off rather below par seasons. Joao Mario's mid-season move to West Ham was disappointing for both parties as he never really showed why he is rated so highly. Adrien Silva finally featured for Leicester City after a failed deadline day move and struggled to find his best form for the Foxes. Leicester won just once with him in their starting line-up. 36-year-old Bruno Alves was injured for a good chunk of the season with Rangers in Scotland and right-back Cedric only barely survived relegation to the English Championship with Southampton. 

Head Coach: Fernando Santos

Population: 11 million

Appearances: 7

Best: 3rd 1966

How they Qualified: Before Cristiano Ronaldo was part of the Portuguese national team Portugal only qualified for the World Cup and the European Championship on 3 occasions each. Since the five-time Balon d'Or winner has been involved in the senior national team Portugal has amazingly qualified for every major tournament. Four successful qualification runs to both World Cup and European Championship has seen this era past all before it. This qualification was easier than most times even though it did not start off in the best way. A Cristiano-less Portugal lost their opening game of qualification to 2-0 to Switzerland. That loss was their only scar as once Ronaldo returned they won every single one of their remaining qualification games to top their European qualification group.

Star Players: Cristiano Ronaldo(Real Madrid), Pepe(Besiktas), Ricardo Quaresma(Besiktas), Bernardo Silva(Manchester City), Andre Silva(AC Milan)

Wildcard: William Carvalho-Danilo Pereira is out injured. Renato Sanches and Andre Gomes were omitted. Joao Mario and Adrien Silva had sub-standard seasons. The promising Bruno Fernandes and the well-travelled Manuel Fernandes are very much inexperienced at this level. Therefore much has to be expected of Carvalho, the Sporting Lisbon captain has the quality to sometimes be the best player on the pitch. Maybe this World Cup is the time he fulfils his 2015 European u21 Player of Tournament potential. Potential that has always seen him linked to the world's top clubs.

Legend:Eusébio