Why was Eli Junior Kroupi left out of Portugal's World Cup 2026 squad by Roberto Martínez?
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Roberto Martínez has announced the final World Cup squad.
Eli Junior Kroupi’s choice to decline a call-up to the Portugal squad before the FIFA World Cup 2026 is something that manager Roberto Martinez has stated he “respects.”
Due to his performance in the Premier League, Junior Kroupi, who is scheduled to play for AFC Bournemouth against Manchester City tonight, has gained attention.
The 19-year-old has scored 12 goals in 31 games, which has sparked rumours that he will sign with a big team during the summer transfer window.
Even though it wasn’t for his native home country, France, his form had put him in the running for an unexpected spot at the World Cup.
There had been a chance that Kroupi would turn his allegiance to Portugal because his mother was Portuguese.
Martinez announced his 26-man World Cup team on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo and other well-known players dominated the lineup.
Also read: Why was Antony left out of Brazil’s World Cup 2026 squad by Carlo Ancelotti?
Martinez reveals why Junior Kroupi wasn’t included in the Portugal squad
He did, however, reveal that rumours of interest in Kroupi had been accurate. But the player rejected his approach. Martinez stated:
“Before the March training camp, we approached him. 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.”
Junior Kroupi also has the potential to represent an African nation because he is the son of former Ivory Coast international Eli Kroupi.
But in addition to spending 12 years with the French Club Lorient before moving to Bournemouth, Kroupi has made 39 appearances for France’s youth national team across all age groups.
He has scored three goals in five games for the Under-21s. If he keeps up his current form, he should undoubtedly get an opportunity to play for France. They will also appoint a new manager following the World Cup.
Who is Junior Kroupi?
He is an AFC Bournemouth player who was born in Lorient, France.
How is he related to Portugal?
His mother is of Portuguese descent.
Where is his father from?
His father, Eli Kroupi, is a former Ivory Coast player.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.