Portugal secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and beat Nigeria 2-1 in a preparatory clash. Despite the victory, the team left the field with certain reservations regarding the performance of striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
The experienced 41-year-old player, who shone for Manchester United and Real Madrid, had clear opportunities to find the net, confronting the goalkeeper on two occasions during the game in Leiria, this Wednesday. However, he was unable to expand on his impressive record of 143 goals for the men’s national team.
The athlete, awarded five times as the best in the world, remained on the field for 65 minutes, a longer time than other Portuguese outfield players who started the match, before being substituted.
With this participation in the next World Cup, Ronaldo will reach his sixth appearance in the tournament, a feat that equals the world record.
In the 75th minute, Francisco Conceição, one of the 11 athletes who took to the field for the Portuguese team, sealed the victory. He advanced from the right, cut to the center and finished with a precise shot into the opposite corner of the goal.
Pedro Neto opened the scoring for Portugal in the 23rd minute of the game. Nigeria, who missed out on World Cup qualification, equalized 14 minutes later with a goal from Akor Adams.
Roberto Martínez, Portugal’s coach, made eight changes at halftime, with the aim of providing playing time to as many members of his squad as possible.
Portugal is part of Group K of the World Cup, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uzbekistan and Colombia. The team’s debut will take place next Wednesday, in Houston, Texas, United States, against DRC, with a start scheduled for noon local time (5pm GMT).
The triumph in Leiria follows another friendly victory, also 2-1, this time against Chile.
In turn, the Nigeria team now directs its focus to the qualifying phase of the 2027 African Cup of Nations.