FIFA International Friendly | Wednesday, 10 June 2026 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal | Referee: TBC
Ronaldo did not score. His last game before the World Cup — possibly the last international friendly of his career — ended with him on the bench watching Francisco Conceição score the winner from the left foot. That is fine. Portugal won 2-1. They go to North America tomorrow with momentum and a result.
Conceição came on at half-time. In the 75th minute he found a gap in the Nigeria defence, opened his body and fired a precise left-footed strike into the net. That was that. Portugal’s final warm-up before the 2026 World Cup ended with three points and a smile from Roberto Martínez on the touchline.
Nigeria fought hard. Alex Iwobi received a 100-cap plaque before kick-off — a moment recognised by the whole crowd at the Magalhães Pessoa. And his side gave Portugal everything they could handle without Osimhen or Lookman, both absent. Akor Adams was the problem all evening.
Pedro Neto got the first goal in the 23rd minute. The move was typical of how Portugal want to play — Diogo Dalot drove forward from right back, reached the byline and cut the ball back across the face of goal. Neto arrived at pace and guided it into the bottom left corner. His first international goal in four months. Clean finish. 1-0 Portugal.
Thirteen minutes later Nigeria were level. And the goal came from nowhere. Adams picked the ball up on the left side of the Portugal defence, bullied his way past a challenge — he is physically enormous and used every bit of it — and slotted the ball past Diogo Costa from a narrow angle. 1-1. Adams celebrated with the Nigerian bench. The Leiria crowd went quiet.
Half-time arrived with the scores level. Martínez made eight changes at the break. Eight. Dalot, Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Inácio, Neto, Joao Neves, Semedo, Trincão all came off. Mendes, Tiago Araújo, Bernardo Silva, Renato Veiga, Joao Felix, Renato Neves, Cancelo, Conceição all came on. Ronaldo — still starting — stayed on initially.
The second half was Portugal pushing for the winner with Ronaldo involved regularly but unable to get the decisive touch. He went close a couple of times. He tried. The frustration was visible. In the 65th minute Martínez brought on Gonçalo Ramos for him. The whole stadium applauded him off. If this was his last friendly before potentially his last World Cup, Leiria gave him a proper send-off.
Then Conceição scored. The Porto winger — who had come on at half-time and been dangerous throughout — controlled inside the left channel, created a yard of space and hit it. Low. Accurate. Bottom right corner. 2-1 Portugal. Game over.
Nigeria kept going in the final fifteen minutes. Moffi, Onuachu, Bewene and Otele all came on in the final stretch — Chelle using every option available. None of it mattered. Portugal managed the closing stages with Nuno Mendes replaced by Matheus Nunes at 80 minutes. The final whistle went. Portugal win.
The World Cup starts tomorrow. Mexico against South Africa kicks off proceedings. Portugal are in Group K — Colombia, DR Congo and Uzbekistan standing between them and the knockout stage. On this form, on this squad depth, none of those three should stop them reaching the last 16. The deeper runs are where the real questions will be answered.
For Nigeria, the summer is over. They missed the World Cup — losing on penalties to DR Congo in the African play-off still the wound that will not close. Three wins and a draw in this international window showed they have quality. Akor Adams was outstanding tonight. He gave Portugal’s defenders a problem they never fully solved. That is something Chelle can build on.
Iwobi got his 100 caps. Portugal got their win. The World Cup begins tomorrow.
For live World Cup scores from the first whistle, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full squads, groups and fixtures at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Portugal 2-1 Nigeria FIFA International Friendly | Wednesday, 10 June 2026 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal
Goals: Pedro Neto 23′ (assist: Diogo Dalot), Francisco Conceição 75′ (Portugal) | Akor Adams 37′ (Nigeria)
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Costa; Dalot (Mendes 45′), Araújo (T. Araújo 45′), Silva (Inácio 45′), Nunes; Neves J. (R. Neves 45′), Costa S. (Vitinha 45′); Neto (Félix 45′), Fernandes B. (B. Silva 45′), Trincão (Conceição 45′); Ronaldo (Ramos 65′)
Nigeria (4-1-2-1-2): Nwabali; Sanusi (Onyemaechi 65′), Ajayi (Bewene 65′), Bassey, Onyeka; Ndidi (Moffi 65′); Akpan (Onuachu 65′), Dele-Bashir; Iwobi (Otele 80′); Chukwueze, Adams (Nnadi 65′)
Half-time: 1-1
