Roberto Martinez said Portugal are heading to the World Cup with 27 players "plus one" following the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

Jota, alongside his brother Andre Silva, was killed following a car accident in northern Spain last July, at the age of 28.

He won 49 caps for Portugal and scored 14 international goals, helping them win the Nations League trophy in both 2018-19 and 2024-25 – with victory over Spain in the latter final proving to be his last game for the Selecao.

On Tuesday, Martinez announced a 27-player squad for the upcoming tournament, where Portugal will face DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.

Martinez named 27 players in his travelling party, with fourth-choice goalkeeper Ricardo Velho being left off the official 26-man list but able to be added in the event of an injury to one of the three registered goalkeepers.

But he sees the group as comprising 28 players, with Jota symbolically included. 

Martinez said of Jota: "He is our strength, our joy. 

"Losing Diogo was an unforgettable and very difficult moment, but the very next day it was up to all of us to fight for Diogo's dream and for the example he always set in our national team. 

"Diogo Jota's spirit, strength and example are the plus one and will always be the plus one."

Portugal did not name Bournemouth's breakout forward Junior Kroupi – who is eligible to represent them, France or Ivory Coast – in their squad, after Martinez reached out to him earlier this year.

He revealed Kroupi had outlined his intention to represent France, the country of his birth, as he said: "Before the March training camp, we approached him [Kroupi].

"But one thing is accompanying players who can wear the Portugal shirt, another is the player's willingness. And in this case, Junior wanted to represent France, so we respect that."

Kroupi has scored 12 Premier League goals in his first campaign with Bournemouth, equalling the competition record by a teenager in their debut season.

Robbie Fowler in 1993-94 and Robbie Keane in 1999-00 also netted 12 times, with Kroupi having two games remaining to overhaul them outright.