Portugal 2-1 Nigeria: Cristiano Ronaldo starts in final World Cup warm-up

Cristiano Ronaldo started as Portugal beat Nigeria 2-1 in their final pre-World Cup friendly on June 10, 2026 — a match that served as Roberto Martínez’s last chance to finalise fitness and selection questions ahead of the tournament. The result keeps Portugal's positive momentum from their recent friendlies intact and gives Martínez fresh material to assess attacking options and minute management for the 41-year-old forward.

Why it matters

This fixture was Portugal’s final outing before the 2026 World Cup, so starting choices and how key players are managed were the headline issues. Cristiano Ronaldo’s inclusion was notable both for his age and his lack of a recent international goal, while Roberto Martínez faced the balancing act of giving match time to his experienced core without risking fitness ahead of the tournament proper.

Confirmed lineups and selection notes

Portugal’s confirmed XI, as reported ahead of kick-off, read: Diogo Costa; Nélson Semedo, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Diogo Dalot; Vitinha, João Neves; Francisco Trincão, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto; Cristiano Ronaldo. The report said Ronaldo was fit to start and that Martínez might still limit his minutes — potentially keeping him to around 45 in order to manage risk ahead of the tournament.

Nigeria’s starting XI was confirmed as: Maduka Okoye; Christian Akpan, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Onyemaechi Bruno; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Wilfred Ndidi; Alex Iwobi, Tochukwu Nnadi, Akor Adams, Moses Simon. Nigeria arrive as a competitive attacking side despite missing out on World Cup qualification, and the visitors featured a number of players capable of testing Portugal’s defence.

Match result and immediate implications

The fixture finished 2-1 to Portugal. While the sources confirm the scoreline and the starting XI, details such as who scored, timing of goals and substitutions were not provided in the supplied material and should be verified from official match reports or post-match coverage before being cited.

Portugal’s unbeaten run across their recent friendlies continued, underlining Martínez’s ability to keep the squad competitive in the build-up. For Nigeria, the performance offered an opportunity to measure themselves against one of Europe’s top sides and to give players international exposure despite the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup.

Tactical and squad context

Roberto Martínez appears to be weighing two priorities: sharpening the attacking balance ahead of the World Cup and preserving the physical condition of senior players. The reported selection paired Bruno Fernandes centrally with creative wide options in Trincão and Pedro Neto, while Vitinha and João Neves provided the midfield platform. The inclusion of Pedro Neto — who benefited from Rafael Leão’s absence after a red card in the previous match — emphasises Portugal’s reliance on pace and wide dribbling to stretch opponents.

On Nigeria’s side, the threat from players such as Terem Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi (all referenced in the pre-match report) was a key part of their game plan, even if they will not be contesting the World Cup. The visitors’ mix of direct attackers and midfield carriers can expose defensive lapses, and Martínez’s back line was expected to be tested during the game.

• Portugal confirmed starting XI included Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Costa.
• Cristiano Ronaldo started the match; Martínez was reported to be likely to manage his minutes.
• Portugal beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final pre-World Cup friendly on June 10, 2026.
• Rafael Leão was unavailable after receiving a red card in Portugal’s previous match, giving Pedro Neto another opportunity.
• Nigeria fielded a competitive XI despite failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

What it means and next steps

This win gives Portugal a final confidence boost before the World Cup and allows Martínez to finish his assessment of player combinations. The reported plan to limit Ronaldo’s minutes, if followed, would be consistent with a wider strategy of protecting veteran players while maintaining attacking threat from wide areas and Bruno Fernandes’ creativity.

For completeness, editors should confirm the match’s goal scorers, substitution details and any official medical updates before publishing a final match report or player-rating piece. Otherwise, this result stands as Portugal’s last competitive rehearsal before their World Cup campaign.