Portugal’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup are complete after a 2-1 victory against Nigeria at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa.
The Seleção had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring early on in Leiria when Francisco Trincão released Nélson Semedo, the right-back squaring the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo who fired wide.
Akor Adams missed the target at the opposite end but it was Portugal who opened the scoring in the 14th minute.
Trincão’s pass over the top evaded Christian Akpan which allowed Diogo Dalot to pick up the ball near the byline. He sized up his options before finding Pedro Neto who fired a left footed shot into the bottom corner.
PEDRO NETO A FAZER O PRIMEIRO EM LEIRIA 😍
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal) June 10, 2026
Portugal está na frente! 🇵🇹#sporttvportugal #FUTEBOLnaSPORTTV #JogodePreparação #Portugal #Nigéria pic.twitter.com/trPRVbbtnW
Roberto Martínez’s side maintained the momentum, a fierce Bruno Fernandes strike tipped over the bar by Maduka Okoye. Fernandes delivered the resulting corner into the box where Ronaldo’s header narrowly evaded the top corner.
Trincão fired over the bar before Nigeria equalised in the 37th minute. Adams outmuscled Gonçalo Inácio and beat Dalot to the ball, getting it back from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and powering it through Diogo Costa’s legs.
Roberto Martínez made nine substitutions at half-time, Diogo Costa and Ronaldo the only players to remain on the pitch.
João Félix took centre stage shortly after the restart, his shot tipped over the bar by Okoye before firing a rocket that hit the underside of the bar and bounced off the goal line.
Nuno Mendes presented a chance for Ronaldo who miscued his effort, the captain making way for Gonçalo Ramos in the 64th minute.
The contest was lacking some spark so Francisco Conceição took matters into his own hands in the 75th minute. He cut inside former Porto teammate Zaidu Sanusi and sent a low shot through traffic that gave Okoyo no chance.
Nuno Mendes made way for Matheus Nunes as Portugal closed out the game. They will now make their final preparations before traveling to Florida on Friday.
FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO À SUA MANEIRA 🚀
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal) June 10, 2026
Portugal novamente na frente 😍#sporttvportugal #FUTEBOLnaSPORTTV #JogodePreparação #Portugal #Nigéria pic.twitter.com/1gjnTXp7oe
What did we learn
Nélson Semedo and Diogo Dalot were heavily involved in the first half, the full-backs frequently getting forward and setting up opportunities for the forwards. Bringing João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes and Matheus Nunes on in the second half highlights the strength of Portugal’s squad.
Roberto Martínez has so many options out wide with players that have different characteristics. Francisco Conceição, Pedro Neto and Rafael Leão bring speed and 1 on 1 ability while João Félix, Francisco Trincão and Bernardo Silva bring technicality and guile.
Cristiano Ronaldo went close twice in the first half and was given more minutes to find the net after the break. It wasn’t his night and he needs an early goal at the World Cup to regain some confidence.
Central defence could be the Seleção’s achilles' heel. I have doubts that Martínez’s options have enough physicality and aggression to deliver Portugal their first World Cup title.
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Quotes
Roberto Martínez
"It was a very significant match, playing against an African team. We are very used to that and it will be very similar to the DRC. Very strong attacking players who use duels very well. It's important to win and improve."
"In the first half we had great opportunities, and Nigeria also ended up having some with the space we gave them. The DRC also does that. Then we made substitutions and added to our level. Nigeria didn't have a single shot on target in the second half. We controlled the game and I'm very satisfied.
"We used 26 players in two games and they are all ready for the World Cup. I think it was a very good game for us. The idea isn't to win 5-0, it's not to play a brilliant game, it's to have a difficult opponent against whom we could test some aspects."
"The plan we had for Cristiano, based on the information we have, was for him to play 45 or 60 minutes. Nuno Mendes also had an individual plan of 30 minutes, as did Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha, and João Neves, both with 45 minutes.
"The important thing is to work on the individual aspects, but also to have a team that can finish the game stronger than it started. And that shows the good work, the focus, the clarity in the execution of the concepts. We are much better prepared."
Pedro Neto
"The objective for the World Cup is to win, we have to take it game by game, the dream is there and that's the mentality. I think we have to embrace that dream, the Portuguese people know what we have within the team and we have to believe until the end."
"We leave with good feelings, two games and two victories. That's what we wanted, to work on the processes and things we needed to improve. We are focused on achieving the dream and on what's to come."
Francisco Conceição
"We are prepared to give our best for Portugal, we promise a lot of hard work and to give our all. A victory is always important, preparing for the World Cup with wins."
"But the most important thing is the dynamics we want to implement in the team before the World Championship, and that's what we tried to do. We still have a few more days to work so that we can enter the World Cup in the best possible way. That is our objective."
Diogo Dalot
"We're going to the World Cup with confidence. Obviously, arriving at the World Cup with two positive results was what we wanted. The most important thing was to work on what we needed to work on. We had some aspects to rectify and we wanted to take advantage of these two games to do that."
"It's a positive assessment because we faced two totally different teams, they gave us different challenges, I think that's what we'll face at the World Cup. We are happy, confident, feeling the support of the public. Now it's about carrying the flag, taking the country to the United States and fighting for the World Cup.
"The coach has to make his choices and from the moment he makes his choices, everyone has to be ready to help and I think that was visible, everyone wants to help the National Team. We tried to take advantage of the stoppages to try to rectify some aspects that improved our games.
"In the second half, we ended up being more balanced with the ball and therefore we had more time in the opponent's half. I think that's what we want, to spend as much time as possible in their half. In the first half we conceded one or two counter-attacks that we should have avoided. I think it was a fair result."
Tomás Araújo
"We are confident. Obviously, we are a little physically worn out because of the game; the coach asked for 45 very intense minutes from both teams in each half. But we are prepared. It's a very united group, we really enjoy being with each other, and we're going all out for the World Cup."
"There are certain moments in the game where we can have a little more possession, and the full-backs or midfielders can stay back more for the defensive transition. But those are aspects that the coach will talk about; we will improve and we will be ready.
"We are ready both offensively and defensively. Of course, we will make some adjustments in both aspects, but I think we are ready in both areas."
Lineups
Portugal 1st half (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; Nélson Semedo, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Diogo Dalot; João Neves, Vitinha; Francisco Trincão, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto; Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal 2nd half (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes (Matheus Nunes, 79’); Rúben Neves, Samú Costa; Francisco Conceição, Bernardo Silva, João Félix; Cristiano Ronaldo (Gonçalo Ramos, 64’)
Unused subs: Ricardo Velho, José Sá, Rui Silva, Gonçalo Guedes
Manager: Roberto Martínez
Nigeria: Maduka Okoye, Christian Akpan (Abdullahi Bewene, 60’), Semi Ajayi (Zaidu Sanusi, 60’), Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Wilfred Ndidi (Raphael Onyedika, 60’), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Frank Onyeka, 60’), Alex Iwobi (Philip Otele, 89’), Tochukwu Nnadi (Emmanuel Fernandez, 79’), Akor Adams (Paul Onuachu, 79’), Moses Simon (Terem Moffi, 60’)
Unused subs: Francis Uzoho, Arthur Okonkwo
Manager: Eric Chelle
Goals:
[1-0] Pedro Neto, 23’
[1-1] Akor Adams, 37’
[2-1] Francisco Conceição, 75’
