Sources: Portugal select LoL roster for Esports Nations Cup

One of the rosters with the most to prove at this Esports Nations Cup, Portugal's lineup, has been shared by sources with Sheep Esports:

Toplane: Antero "Papiteero" Baldaia
Jungle: Tiago "Time" Almeida
Midlane: João "Baca" Bigas
ADC: Rodrigo "FlickeR" de Oliveira
Support: Guilherme "Obstinatus" Sousa

While Portugal fields no former LEC players, the five-man roster sits firmly at the top of the ERL tier. That alone won't be enough to challenge EMEA's traditional powerhouses, but it should make Portugal a genuine threat against teams of similar standing. Interestingly, the selectors did consider former LEC AD Carry Amadeu Jesus "Attila" Dias de Carvalho, who has since transitioned to support, but ultimately opted for a younger botlane. Instead, the team will gather experience from its coaching staff.

As previously reported by Sheep Esports, the team will be led by GIANTX coaching staff, Head Coach André "Guilhoto" Pereira Guilhoto and Assistant Coach Rúben Alexandre "Rhuckz" Barbosa Neves. Portugal will likely have to go through the Europe West Qualifier, which will feature two slots. None of the players are currently competing in Tier 1, meaning the selectors had to build the roster with talent coming from the ERL scene.

Several players on this roster have already played together in the past. Papiteero, who peaked at 2,316 LP on EUW this season according to lolpros, has built his career across multiple ERLs, including the Portuguese ERL (LPLOL), the Greek ERL (HLL), and the Northern European ERL (NLC), most recently playing the Spring Split with Team Heretics Academy. He is also a 2021 LPLOL champion, and played in the NLC earlier this year alongside Obstinatus with Verdant.

In the jungle, Time peaked at 2,048 LP on EUW this season and is currently competing in the Spanish ERL (LVP) with Movistar KOI Fénix, where he has established himself as one of the most decorated players in the Spanish scene, including a two-time LPLOL champion with GTZ Esports. He previously played alongside Obstinatus in the Portuguese ERL back in 2021 with OFFSET Esports.

In the midlane, Baca is the most experienced player on the roster, having started his career in 2016. A multiple-time Spanish ERL (LVP) champion, with UCAM Esports in 2021 and Fnatic TQ in 2022, who peaked at 1,287 LP on EUW this season, he most recently played alongside Obstinatus at UCAM in 2024, and will now reunite with his former support Rhuckz, now his coach.

FlickeR is the youngest player on the roster. At just 21, the AD Carry, who peaked at 1,888 LP on EUW this season, has already won titles across several ERLs, including the Polish ERL (Ultraliga), the Italian ERL (LIT), the Arabian ERL (AL) and most recently his second in the Benelux ERL (Road Of Legends) this past winter with Frites Esports Club.

After announcing his retirement earlier this year following a fourth-place finish in the Northern European ERL (NLC) Spring Split with Verdant, Obstinatus took a different path. The Portuguese support, who peaked at 1,913 LP on the North American server this season per deeplol, joined Briar Cliff Esports in North America's collegiate League of Legends scene (CLOL), where esports scholarships helped fund his studies, an ideal way to combine his academic ambitions with his competitive background.

Just a few months later, he secured a spot at Maryville University, one of North America's top collegiate programs, alongside returning jungler Yuuji. Obstinatus will look to help Maryville defend their Collegiate Championship title.

Despite being the only player not currently based in Europe, Obstinatus has previously played alongside every other player on this roster except FlickeR, yet is still chasing his first professional title.

Portugal are expected to play their first games in June, as they look to secure one of the 32 spots at the Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh this November.