Ronaldo’s dramatic departure from Manchester United has dominated the build-up to the Selecao’s Group H opener against Ghana and Piers Morgan’s most recent interview subject will now look to do his talking on the pitch

Otto Addo’s squad has seen plenty of turnover of late, meaning the tournament’s lowest-ranked nation could be something of an unknown quantity.

Ghana head into the World Cup in patchy form, although they enjoyed a confidence-boosting friendly win over Switzerland in Abu Dhabi last week.

MORE: Portugal vs. Ghana live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 Group H match

Portugal vs. Ghana lineups

Diogo Jota and Renato Sanches were the headline injury victims unable to make Santos’ squad, but the veteran tactician can still call upon a plethora of attacking talent.

A 4-0 win over Nigeria in their final pre-tournament friendly suggested Portugal might be ready to throw off some of their more pragmatic stylings. Ronaldo sat out that game with illness but is ready to return.

Ghana will look to Mohammed Kudus for inspiration and the Ajax playmaker certainly will not be over-awed by facing Ronaldo.

In a friendly against Brazil earlier this year, he clashed with Neymar. “He’s not better than me. He’s just a higher profile player, that’s all,” Kudus told The Guardian. “He was defending his country and I was defending mine. I wasn’t about to let him push me around.

Below are the starting lineups for both teams for their match at Stadium 974 on Thursday, November 24.

Portugal starting 11

Portugal (4-1-2-1-2, right to left): 22. Costa (GK) — 20. Cancelo, 4. Dias, 13. Danilo Pereira, 5. Guerreiro — 18. Neves — 8. Fernandes, 25. Otavio — 10. Bernardo Silva — 7. Ronaldo, 11. Joao Felix

Injured: Nuno Mendes Suspended: none

Ghana starting 11

Ghana (5-4-1, right to left): 1. Ati-Zigi (GK) — 26. Seidu, 23. Djiku, 18. Amartey, 4. Salisu, 17. Rahman — 20. Kudus, 5. Partey, 21. Abdul Samed, 10. A. Ayew — 19. Williams.

Injured: Sulemana, Kyereh Suspended: none

Portugal vs. Ghana World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on each team’s squad lists at the World Cup in Qatar:

Portugal

Ghana

READ: MESSI & RONALDO: DESTINATION MUNDIAL | THE FULL SERIES