Portugal’s Best Generation Yet Chasing World Cup History – Abel Xavier

Every FIFA World Cup creates new heroes, but it also reunites football fans with the legends who helped shape the game.

Throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, SuperSport has assembled one of the strongest football broadcasting teams on the continent, bringing together iconic names from across the globe to provide unrivalled analysis, insight and storytelling across all 104 matches, alongside world-class magazine shows, studio discussions and exclusive interviews.

Among those voices is former Portugal, Liverpool, and Everton defender Abel Xavier—one of football’s most recognisable personalities and a man whose own story stretches far beyond Europe.

Born in Mozambique before embarking on a career that would take him to some of the biggest clubs in world football, Xavier has returned to Africa as part of the SuperSport family, offering viewers a unique perspective on a tournament that continues to redefine football’s global landscape.

Liverpool’s Abel Xavier during their FA Premiership match against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Getty Images.

And with Portugal safely through to the Round of 32, where they face Croatia in a mouthwatering knockout encounter live on SuperSport on Friday morning (01:00 CAT), Xavier believes his homeland has every reason to dream.

“I believe Portugal have a great chance,” Xavier says.

“If we are talking about both quantity and quality, Portugal currently has the best generation of players. I believe that if the coach sets up the team properly, considering the number of quality players available, Portugal can achieve the results needed to take them at least to the semi-finals.”

It is a statement built not on emotion, but experience.

Xavier represented Portugal during one of the country’s transformational eras, helping lay the foundations for the golden generation that followed.

Today, he sees a squad blessed with depth across every position, a balance of established stars and emerging talent, and a genuine opportunity to compete with the world’s elite.

Yet one storyline towers above them all.

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is contesting what is widely expected to be his final FIFA World Cup. Having conquered almost every major honour in club football and lifted the UEFA European Championship with Portugal, only one prize remains elusive.

Liverpool’s Abel Xavier (Photo by Neal Simpson/EMPICS via Getty Images)

For Xavier, there could be no more fitting ending.

“Unfortunately, over the last few decades, two of the greatest players ever have emerged: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It has often felt like a personal competition between them as well.

“I honestly believe Cristiano wants to finish his career with a major trophy. I think the greatest trophy and the greatest privilege a player can have is winning something with their country. In my opinion, that is the ultimate prize.”

Standing in Portugal’s way on Friday is a Croatia side renowned for its resilience, tactical discipline and ability to thrive in knockout football.

But Xavier warns against focusing only on the traditional heavyweights.

Abel Xavier of LA Galaxy on the ball during the Usa Major League Soccer match between LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew at Home Depot Centre In Carson on June 23, 2007 in California, United States. (Photo by Graham Whitby Boot/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

For him, this expanded FIFA World Cup has created an entirely new competitive landscape.

“I think this World Cup is unusual because there are more teams and more unpredictable situations can happen. Some teams may not appear capable of competing at the highest level, but they can still surprise people.

“If we talk about the physical strength of the African teams, for example, and the pragmatism and tactical discipline of some of the Asian teams, they can also surprise people. Take South Korea, for example. For many people, their performance in the first game was a surprise. For me, it was not a surprise because of the reasons I’ve just mentioned.

“The favourites, in my view, are those who have won the tournament before. We are talking about France, Brazil, Argentina and Spain. Then there is another group of teams that can surprise people, including Portugal and England. After that, other teams can still disrupt the competition.”

Abel Xavier