Portugal closed its preparation for the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 victory against Nigeria in the Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Stadium. The match left one of the most talked about images of the match: a clear chance wasted by Cristiano Ronaldo that provoked a visible reaction of frustration from the Portuguese captain.
In the first half, Ronaldo had a chance to open the scoring, but his shot went wide. The reaction of the 41-year-old striker was immediate. He gestured with obvious annoyance and showed his discontent after the action.
Pedro Neto opened the scoring for Portugal in the 23rd minute with a powerful left-footed shot. Nigeria equalized in the 37th minute through Akor Adams.
In the second half, Francisco Conceição sealed the Portuguese victory with a shot crossed to the right post from the right sector of the area, which beat goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
Ronaldo was substituted around the 65th minute to make way for Gonçalo Ramos. Coach Roberto Martínez took advantage of the match to rotate the team and test different variants ahead of the debut in the 2026 World Cup.
Portugal showed good collective functioning and squad depth, although the missed opportunity by its main figure once again generated comments about the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo at 41 years old.
The Portuguese team is in Group K of the 2026 World Cup along with Colombia, Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Portuguese, led by Cristiano Ronaldo and considered among the contenders for the title, will debut on June 17 against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston. They will later face Uzbekistan on June 23 and close the group stage against Colombia.
With this victory, Portugal reaches the tournament after completing its preparation with a solid performance against Nigeria.