Rui Silva or Diogo Costa? After Mexico v Portugal, Beto names No 1 | OneFootball

Beto Pimparel, former Sporting goalkeeper, believes that Diogo Costa remains the main choice for the National Team goal, saying that Rui Silva and José Sá are a level below the current Porto keeper.

"Obviously, if Diogo Costa is fit, he is the starter. Between Rui Silva and José Sá, I wouldn’t put either one ahead", he told Agência Lusa. The recent absence of the Dragons player, due to injury, opened up room for observations by the coaching staff, in a preparation phase for the 2026 World Cup. In that context, Beto recalls that performances at club level do not always carry over to the national team: "We’ve had examples of goalkeepers and players who perform at a high level for their clubs and, for some reason, it is not the same with the national team".

Regarding Ricardo Velho, the former international praised the goalkeeper’s path: "On his own merit, Ricardo Velho has had a very fine journey. I don’t put anyone ahead as the second option". The final decision, he explains, will depend greatly on the coaching staff’s assessment and each player’s form at the time.

"The national team coach has very few opportunities to assess Rui Silva and José Sá in this context", also stressing that it is important for everyone to "feel that they have their importance" within the group.

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