Pedro Gonçalves hampered for Cup final, but can make Sporting history | OneFootball

Pedro Gonçalves is preparing to play another final in a Sporting shirt and wants to end the 2025/26 season in the best possible way. About to complete his sixth consecutive season at Alvalade, the 'number 8' is now targeting victory in the Portuguese Cup against Torreense, in what could be the eighth trophy he has won since joining the Lions.

However, the Portuguese international’s season has once again been marked by several physical problems. Throughout 2025/26, Pote has already missed 15 matches due to muscle injuries and arrives at the Jamor final once again hampered. The player suffered a blow to his left knee in the win against Gil Vicente, in the final round of the Liga Portugal Betclic, which is why he has been training with protection on that area.

Despite his physical limitations, the Sporting playmaker remains fully focused on helping Rui Borges’ side finish the season with another title. The goal is also to end a rather unusual drought: Pedro Gonçalves has now gone ten consecutive matches without scoring in all competitions, matching his worst run since 2021/22.

The attacking midfielder believes, however, that the stage at Jamor could be the ideal setting to find the net again. Against Torreense, Pote will try to score again and move even closer to a special place in Sporting’s recent history.

If he manages to score in the Portuguese Cup final, Pedro Gonçalves will reach 98 goals in a Sporting shirt, overtaking Viktor Gyökeres on the list of Sporting's top scorers in the 21st century. Ahead of the Portuguese international would be only Liedson, a historic figure for the green and whites with 172 goals scored.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.