Precisely the kind of player a squad notices most in his absence, Pedro Miguel has been a mainstay for both Al Sadd and Qatar. Naturally, he started all three games in the home World Cup in 2022. “There was a lot of pressure,” Pedro said about Qatar’s debut at the grandest of stages. “There was immense pressure to do well in front of our fans.”

Born in Portugal, the right-back represented Cape Verde at the under-21 level and, through the particular arithmetic of international football, is now one of the most decorated players ever in Qatar. His goal against the UAE sealed Al Annabi’s spot in the World Cup and came entirely in character. The 35-year-old is physical, adaptable, and capable of operating in a back three, and has hence nailed down the right-back position as his own.