Gonçalo Inácio
Squad number 14 · Sporting CP
Their 2026 World Cup
Gonçalo Inácio travelled to the 2026 World Cup with Portugal, wearing number 14, without ever getting on the pitch. His side played 5 matches (2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat) and bowed out in the round of 16, beaten by Spain 1-0.
Defence went to Renato Veiga (5 matches, 450′) and Nuno Mendes (5 matches, 397′).
Another 2 players in the Portugal squad ended up the same way, without a single minute. The full run is on the Portugal team page.
Biography
Gonçalo Bernardo Inácio (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡõˈsalu iˈnasju]; born 25 August 2001) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Portugal national team. Coming through Sporting CP's youth academy, he made his first-team debut in 2020. He went on to win three Primeira Liga titles with the club in the 2020–21, 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons (being named to the 2024 and 2025 Teams of the Year), as well as back-to-back Taças da Liga in 2021 and 2022. Having also been a Portugal youth international, Inácio made his full debut in 2023, being part of the squad at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. He won the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League.
Early life Inácio was born in Almada, Setúbal District and raised in Seixal, a municipality located 34.2 km (21.3 mi) away. Growing up, he would play football wherever he could on the streets or in his house, and regularly attended Sporting CP matches with his father. Despite not having a particular idol, Inácio looked to emulate Jérémy Mathieu.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · text adapted from the article.
See all the tournament stats on the World Cup data hub.
Photo: Bryan Berlin · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)