Roberto Martinez, Portugal’s national team coach since 2023, spoke to L’Equipe on the sidelines of the announcement of his squad for the 2026 World Cup. The squad includes four Paris Saint-Germain players, as is often the case during international breaks: Nuno Mendes (23-year-old left-back), João Neves (21-year-old midfielder), Vitinha (26-year-old midfielder), and Gonçalo Ramos (24-year-old striker). The coach was asked to discuss their contribution to the national team.
Roberto Martinez: “Luis Enrique’s work is very important.”
You have four players who play for PSG: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves, and Gonçalo Ramos. What do they bring to the team?
Paris Saint-Germain has helped us a lot in recent years. It’s a club with a very clear objective: to win the Champions League. This has allowed these four players to develop a high level of competitiveness, and the Portuguese national team is benefiting from it. Luis Enrique’s work has been very important in their development. As with (Bradley) Barcola and (Ousmane) Dembélé (France) or (Achraf) Hakimi (Morocco).
PSG and coach Luis Enrique will undoubtedly appreciate such remarks. Far from the conflicts sometimes seen between clubs and national teams, the Portuguese coach recognizes the importance of his players’ work in Paris. It’s where they spend the most time throughout the season, and it’s essential for their development.
Undeniably, Mendes, Neves, and Vitinha have matured considerably at PSG and seem ready for any challenge at the highest level. They could very well play a pivotal role in a successful World Cup for Portugal. We can’t quite include Ramos, who has struggled more. This doesn’t mean he hasn’t improved, in his movement and link-up play, for example, but he lacks a certain level of confidence so crucial for a striker. Perhaps this World Cup will do him a world of good.
It’s worth noting at PSG that Roberto Martinez is right to point out that other players have progressed at PSG in recent seasons. This is a great way to acknowledge the work of the club and coach Luis Enrique. This is something that can also be highlighted in discussions with young players from the academy and potential future signings.
