João Cancelo spearheads Portugal’s Saudi revolution | OneFootball

Portugal took a big step towards the 2026 World Cup after beating Hungary 3-2 in Budapest, thanks to João Cancelo’s late winner.

When asked about him by our very own Matthew Marshall, Roberto Martinez said: “We all know the quality that João has, and I think it makes him a very different player for us. He’s so confident on the ball in tight spaces, in big spaces, on the outside, on the inside, his clinical aspect.

“From day one in training he impressed everyone, so it doesn't surprise me, the level he has achieved. It’s a big plus for us to have a player like Cancelo fully fit, fully focused and ready to help the team.”

The 31-year-old right-back rolled back the years to showcase his elite quality for the Seleção, certainly earning his spot in an intensely disputed position with the likes João Neves, Diogo Dalot and Nelson Semedo all vying to make the plane to next summer’s World Cup.

Saudi influence in Portugal squad

Remarkably, seven of the eight goals the Seleção scored against Armenia and Hungary in this international break came from players based in Saudi Arabia. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo scored three times, while his Al Nassr teammate João Félix bagged a brace in Yerevan.

Portugal’s star man in the double header, Cancelo, is also in the Arabian Peninsula, having signed permanently for Al-Hilal after loan spells at Bayern Munich and Barcelona. Rúben Neves, who was surprisingly selected at centre-back by Roberto Martínez against Hungary, plays alongside Cancelo in Riyadh.

Kevin Fernandes takes a look at Cancelo’s remarkable career.

From Setúbal to Saudi: The Rise

Born in the Setúbal district, João Pedro Cavaco Cancelo began his career at local club Barreirense before heading to Benfica aged 13.

Cancelo has openly admitted that he would like to return to his boyhood club in his final season as a footballer, potentially as a recognised No. 10.

Despite initially being seen as a potential long-term replacement for veteran Maxi Pereira, Cancelo’s Benfica career was most successful at youth level.

Cancelo has unsurprisingly become renowned for contributing in decisive moments – grabbing two goals to clinch the National U19 Championship, one of three youth titles won.

After making only two senior first-team appearances, Cancelo moved to Valencia, where he would really start to make a name for himself in European football.

His two-year Italian adventure through Inter and Juventus would pique Manchester City’s interest and warrant a record-breaking fee for a right-back.

Three Premier League titles coupled with one FA Cup and two EFL Cups were won by the man labelled as one of the best wide defenders in world football.

Then, came the disputes with legendary manager Pep Guardiola. Cancelo told O Jogo: “He found a way to play, after the World Cup, in which he started playing with a full-back more inside, where I also played, and he liked what he saw with Rico [Lewis] and Nathan [Ake].”

“A competitive player, like me, who aspires to win titles, just wants to play. It’s not a question of devaluing my teammates. But I thought I deserved to play and he didn't.

“I have a difficult personality, yes, but I have never, at any time, disrespected teammates or coaches.”

Cancelo therefore joined Bayern Munich and subsequently Barcelona on loan, before relocating to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal. Sometimes touted as the best right-back in the world, a CV that includes Inter, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona is strong evidence to back that argument.

After league titles in Germany, Italy, England and Portugal with numerous domestic titles following suit, Cancelo is another member of the Saudi club invading the Portuguese national team and silencing doubters with excellent performances.

The No. 10 playing as a full-back

Cancelo has over 60 appearances for Portugal, and his two goals this week saw him become the top goalscoring defender in his country’s history with 12 goals, displacing old-school centre-back Bruno Alves.

The defender who contributed directly to 13 goals in 39 games for Al-Hilal continues to demonstrate elite technical ability for a defender.

Cancelo is one of Portugal’s most potent offensive weapons, often inverting and creating with supreme irreverence.

With both feet, Cancelo forces the issue with his passing, dribbling, crossing and shooting – combining well with teammates and providing fluidity and dynamism where his alternatives have more defined roles.

Key in previous conquests of major trophies for European giants at domestic and continental level, any contribution made by João Cancelo at the next World Cup will be a bonus for Roberto Martinez’s Seleção.

Consistency will be key for Barreiro’s finest, as many return with the recurring question – how isn’t Cancelo still at the pinnacle of European football, considered as one of the greatest?

He may now be in Saudi Arabia, but should Cancelo maintain the form he showed this week, and his compatriots in the Middle East do the same, he may well be a key part of a special World Cup for Portugal and change perceptions about his standing among the all-time greats in his position.