Tottenham Hotspur's Joao Palhinha is making a compelling case for a starting spot with Portugal at the 2026 World Cup, following a remarkable resurgence in form that has reignited the debate about his role in the national team's midfield.
The 30-year-old midfielder recently delivered a dramatic late strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers, securing Tottenham's first Premier League victory since December. He followed that up with a commanding performance at Aston Villa on Sunday, providing the defensive stability that allowed his team to grind out another crucial win.
Under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham have adopted a more pragmatic approach in midfield, and the results speak for themselves. After a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Sunderland—where De Zerbi's experiment with Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Conor Gallagher backfired as Granit Xhaka dominated the game—the Italian tactician quickly adjusted his strategy.
At Villa Park, Palhinha partnered Rodrigo Bentancur in a double pivot, with Gallagher pushed further forward. It was the first time this season the duo had started together, and the impact was immediate. They outworked Villa's midfield trio of Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde, and Youri Tielemans, giving Spurs the platform they needed for a vital victory. This performance echoed a similar display in January, when Palhinha's dominant showing against the same opponents wasn't enough to secure FA Cup progress.
This newfound template could be the key to preserving Tottenham's Premier League status—and it might also open the door for Palhinha's World Cup ambitions. However, earning a spot in Portugal's starting XI is far from guaranteed.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has a well-documented preference for technical midfielders, a philosophy he has maintained since his early managerial days at Swansea City. Palhinha, by contrast, is a traditional ball-winner—a defensive destroyer who prioritizes breaking up play over intricate passing. While his recent form at Tottenham is impossible to ignore, whether it will be enough to convince Martinez remains the big question.