Vitinha: "We have talent, but we're not favorites to win the World Cup"

Vitinha, speaking on behalf of the Portuguese national team, addressed the media at their Palm Beach base, the squad's headquarters for the 2026 World Cup. The midfielder lauded the team's capabilities but stopped short of labeling Portugal as tournament favorites.

"We know we have a national team of immense quality, with a lot of talent and players competing at the world's top clubs. Because of this, I'd even say we've never had a squad quite like this. However, that counts for nothing on paper. I'd say we are contenders, we have a very strong team, but not favorites – I wouldn't use those words. We need to keep that in mind. We have a lot of potential, and we need to put it into practice," he began.

"We know that what works is being humble, taking it game by game, focusing on the immediate future rather than looking too far ahead. We have the talent. We need to show immense dedication and commitment. These are the perfect ingredients for us to leave here with a good result. That's what we're going to try and do. We welcome the position people put us in, but it means nothing if we don't do what we need to do on the pitch. We'll do everything to ensure things go well," he added.

When asked if winning the World Cup would be more special than the Champions League, he responded: "It's different, but certainly very special to win such an important trophy with the national team, after the Nations League."