Ronaldo still the face of Portugal's campaign

FOR NEARLY TWO decades, Portugal’s football story has been told through Cristiano Ronaldo’s lens. Every major tournament has carried the same question: Can Ronaldo carry Portugal once again?

- SHANKAR NARAYAN

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, that question still remains. The 41-year-old is still the face of Portuguese football, still the player fans come to watch. But for perhaps the first time in his international career, Portugal’s hopes may depend less on the man finishing the moves and more on the players creating them around him.

Somewhere behind Ronaldo, scanning the pitch before receiving the ball, will be 26-year-old midfielder Vitor Machado Ferreira, better known as Vitinha.

Born in Santo Tirso, northern Portugal, Vitinha was introduced to football by his father, Vitor Manuel, a former professional player. Yet the game was never forced on him, allowing him to develop at his own pace. He is not the captain. He is not their biggest star. But over the last two years, he has quietly become one of Portugal’s most important players.