Ricardo Horta Returns to Portugal Squad After 16 Months in World Cup Warm-Ups

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has recalled SC Braga forward Ricardo Horta to the senior national squad for final preparation matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 31-year-old forward will compete for a place in the final tournament roster through friendlies against Mexico on March 28 and the United States on March 31 in North America. The call-up follows a blistering domestic campaign in which Horta has racked up 16 goals and 9 assists across 39 appearances for the Braga-based club, cementing his status as one of the Portuguese top flight's most productive attackers.

Why This Matters

• International return: Horta had not featured in a Portugal squad since November 2023, missing 16 months of call-ups.

• World Cup warm-ups: The team faces Mexico on March 28 and the United States on March 31 in North America, testing squad depth and providing a final audition before the tournament roster is finalized.

• Proving himself: After months away from international football, these friendlies offer Horta a chance to demonstrate his form and stake a claim for a World Cup seat.

Back from the Wilderness

Ricardo Horta's omission from recent camps was never explained as disciplinary or tactical; rather, a series of muscular setbacks—including a thigh strain in March 2024 and a "muscular overload" in October 2023—kept him off the training pitch. The Braga captain missed Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovakia and Bosnia after pulling out of a training session at the national facility.

What has changed is consistency. Across the 2025–26 domestic season, Horta started 22 Liga Portugal matches, notched 13 goals, and delivered 4 assists in the league alone. His involvement translates to 0.92 goal contributions per 90 minutes, with a shot accuracy hovering around 60%. Add 10 Europa League appearances and a handful of Taça de Portugal ties, and the numbers swell to nearly 5,000 minutes of playing time this term.

How the News Broke at Braga

Roberto Martínez unveiled the 27-man squad while Horta was still at the Estádio Municipal de Braga training complex. Video released by the club shows teammates forming a circle and applauding as coaching staff relayed the announcement. The reaction underscores Horta's standing within the Braga dressing room and his reputation as a key player for the club.

Sporting de Braga itself faces a short turnaround: losing a key player for two friendlies in late March compresses preparation for the Liga Portugal run-in and potential Europa League knockout ties. Still, the club's social channels framed the call-up as validation of a breakout year, posting congratulatory messages within minutes of Martínez's press conference.

What This Means for Residents

For fans in Portugal, Horta's inclusion signals that domestic form still counts in an era dominated by marquee transfers to Saudi Arabia and the Premier League. It also reflects Martínez's broader approach: using these final friendlies to evaluate alternatives and test tactical systems before the tournament squad is locked in.

The matches themselves—scheduled for neutral venues in North America—serve a dual purpose. First, they simulate the altitude and humidity conditions Portugal will face at the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Second, they offer a final public audition before the final 26-man tournament roster is confirmed in the coming weeks.

Anyone holding tickets to Portugal's group-stage fixtures in June will be watching the March friendlies closely. A strong outing against Mexico or the United States could strengthen Horta's case for inclusion in the final World Cup squad, especially if he replicates the same finishing touch that has made him productive in the Portuguese league this season.

Martínez's Broader Strategy

Since taking charge in January 2023, Roberto Martínez has favored a data-driven selection process, blending veterans with in-form domestic talent. Horta's recall fits that mold: the forward ranks fourth in the Liga Portugal for expected assists (xA) and maintains an 88% pass-completion rate, indicating he can link play as well as finish chances.

The Belgium-born coach has emphasized the importance of these final preparation matches. With several senior players managing workload concerns, Martínez is using the two North American friendlies to test alternative lineups and evaluate squad depth. That philosophy opens the door for Horta and others to stake a claim during the matches.

Portugal's contract with Martínez runs through July 2026, meaning these matches represent one of his final opportunities to experiment before the tournament kicks off. Observers expect him to trial different tactical systems across both friendlies, using the contrasting opponents to evaluate squad versatility.

The Numbers Behind the Call

Ricardo Horta's Liga Portugal statistics this season place him among the division's elite:

• 13 goals in 22 matches (0.71 per 90 minutes)

• 9 home goals, 4 away goals

• 28 shots on target from 47 attempts (59.57% accuracy)

• 2.17 key passes per match, fourth-best in the league

When Europa League and domestic cup fixtures are added, the totals rise to 16 goals and 9 assists in 39 games. That output rivals the production of strikers competing in wealthier leagues, and it comes while playing a leadership role at his club.

What Happens Next

The Portugal Football Federation will host a training camp in the Algarve from March 24 through March 27, then fly directly to North America. The squad lands in Mexico City on March 27, plays the following evening, and travels to the United States for the March 31 fixture in Los Angeles.

Martínez is expected to rotate the squad across both matches, giving fringe players and newcomers extended minutes. For Horta, that likely means at least one start—possibly both—depending on fitness assessments and tactical requirements.

Back at Braga, preparation continues for upcoming Liga Portugal fixtures without their forward for this period. The club remains in contention in the domestic league, making every remaining fixture important. Losing Horta for even a week adds pressure, but the prestige of a national-team call-up—and the morale boost it delivers—often outweighs the short-term inconvenience.

For Portuguese football watchers, the story is straightforward: a 31-year-old forward who spent 16 months out of the picture has forced his way back through relentless goal-scoring and creative play. Whether that translates to a seat on the plane to the World Cup will be decided in the coming weeks, but the door is now open.