Projects like "Portable-VirtualBox" exist. However, like VMware, they require installing kernel drivers. They often use a launcher that installs/uninstalls the drivers on the fly. It is more lightweight than VMware but lacks Pro features like snapshots in the free version.
Creating a truly "portable" version of VMware Workstation Pro 17 is unique because VMware naturally requires deep system drivers (like virtual network adapters and disk controllers) that usually need a full installation. However, you can create a "Portable Lab"