Cristiano Ronaldo, the former World Footballer of the Year, has been included in the 26-man squad selected by Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez for the international friendly against Nigeria scheduled for June 10. The match will take place at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, Portugal, serving as a preparatory fixture for the Portuguese team ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ronaldo's Quest for World Cup Glory
This World Cup is widely regarded as Ronaldo's final opportunity to claim the most prestigious title in global football. The Al Nassr star, who previously played for Real Madrid and Manchester United, has already won the European Championship, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and UEFA Nations League. He is set to appear in his record sixth World Cup tournament.
Nigeria's Rebuilding Phase
For the Super Eagles, this friendly presents another chance for coach Eric Chelle to evaluate new talents as he continues to rebuild the team. Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup once again, having also missed the previous edition in Qatar in 2022. The match against Portugal will be a crucial test for the squad's development.
Strong Portuguese Squad
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, who is in contention for the English Premier League Player of the Year award, is also included in the squad. Joao Felix, Ronaldo's teammate at Al Nassr, is part of the selection, while goalkeeper Ricardo Velho has been added as an extra player. Paris Saint-Germain stars Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Goncalo Ramos are also in the strong lineup, alongside Manchester City's Bernardo Silva.
Martinez on Ronaldo
Speaking about Ronaldo, Martinez stated that he does not need to manage the five-time Ballon d'Or winner differently due to his age. "In my experience, at a World Cup, a player doesn't follow the pattern of club form, age-related performance or anything like that," Martinez told reporters. "The focus is our group. All of them are focused, they're prepared for the demands of a World Cup and we just need to manage day by day."
Portugal's Preparations
Apart from the game against Nigeria, Portugal will also face Chile before their World Cup opening match against DR Congo on June 17. Portugal is in Group K alongside Uzbekistan and Colombia, with matches scheduled for June 23 and 27 respectively.
Full Portugal Squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves/ENG), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi/TUR).
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG), Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias (both Manchester City/ENG), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce/TUR), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona/ESP), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villarreal/ESP), Tomas Araujo (Benfica).
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al Hilal/KSA), Samu Costa (Mallorca/ESP), Joao Neves, Vitinha (both Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix (both Al Nassr/KSA), Francisco Trincao (Sporting Lisbon), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus/ITA), Pedro Neto (Chelsea/ENG), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad/ESP), Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA).
