Portugal continued their preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a hard earned 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Leiria, extending their positive run ahead of the tournament. While the result offered encouragement for Roberto Martinez and his squad, it was a night of missed opportunities for Cristiano Ronaldo, who was unable to add to his remarkable international scoring record.
The veteran forward, set to feature in his sixth World Cup and equal the tournament appearance record, was handed two excellent opportunities during the contest. On both occasions, he found himself through on goal with only the goalkeeper standing in his way. However, the Portuguese captain failed to convert either chance, leaving his international tally unchanged at 143 goals.
Despite Ronaldo’s frustrations in front of goal, Portugal managed to take control of the match during the opening stages. Pedro Neto opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, giving the home side a deserved advantage after a bright start.
Nigeria responded well and restored parity 14 minutes later through Akor Adams. The equaliser ensured the African side remained competitive throughout the first half despite missing several key figures from their squad.
Martinez used the fixture as an opportunity to assess the depth of his team before the World Cup begins. Eight alterations were made at halftime, while several more players were introduced later in the match as the Portuguese coach rotated his options and shared valuable minutes across the squad.
The decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute when substitute Francisco Conceicao produced a moment of quality. Cutting inside from the right flank, the young attacker curled a precise effort into the far corner to secure victory for Portugal.
Ronaldo remained on the pitch until the 65th minute and played longer than any other starting outfield player, highlighting Martinez’s desire to keep his captain sharp ahead of the tournament.
Portugal now travel to the World Cup with confidence after following up their recent 2-1 success against Chile with another victory. Their campaign begins next Wednesday against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston, Texas. Uzbekistan and Colombia complete Group K.
For Nigeria, attention shifts toward qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles rested star names Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman following demanding club seasons, choosing instead to focus on squad management ahead of future competitive fixtures.
