Cristiano Ronaldo made his long-awaited return to competitive international football last night, but it was his Al Nassr club teammate Joao Felix who stole the headlines as Portugal edged past Wales 1-0 in a hard-fought UEFA Nations League opener at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.
A Homecoming Night for Ronaldo, But the Goals Would Not Come
There was something poetic about Ronaldo lining up at the very stadium where his career first took flight with Sporting CP. Winning his 234th cap after opting to extend his international journey following a disappointing World Cup campaign, the 41-year-old was desperate to mark the occasion with a goal.
It simply was not his night. Ronaldo fired seven shots at goal, more than any other player on the pitch, yet five drifted wide of the target and a promising second-half effort was chalked off after a VAR review. For a man chasing the extraordinary milestone of 1,000 career goals, this was a frustrating evening in front of a home crowd desperate to celebrate with him.
Felix Delivers the Decisive Blow
Portugal did not need Ronaldo to be clinical, because Joao Felix stepped up instead. In the 22nd minute, his effort took a cruel deflection off Wales defender Ben Davies and looped beyond goalkeeper Danny Ward to give the hosts the lead.
It was a fortunate goal in terms of technique, but nobody could argue Portugal did not deserve it. By full time, Jorge Jesus’s side had racked up an astonishing 22 shots compared to just five for Wales, dominating possession and territory for large stretches of the contest.
Bellamy’s Wales Fight Hard Despite Heavy Absences
Craig Bellamy’s Wales side arrived in Lisbon severely weakened, missing key figures Harry Wilson and Joe Rodon, while regular goalkeeper Karl Darlow’s absence forced Wrexham shot-stopper Danny Ward into only his second appearance of the season. Despite being ranked 31 places below Portugal in the FIFA world rankings, Wales refused to simply roll over.
Liverpool’s rising star Lewis Koumas caused early problems for the Portuguese defense, and Ward produced several crucial saves, including a smart stop to deny Goncalo Ramos a second goal late on, to keep the scoreline respectable.
Jorge Jesus Makes History, Ronaldo Bows Out Early
There was extra historical weight to the occasion, with 72-year-old Jorge Jesus becoming the oldest coach ever to take charge of the Portuguese national team. Jesus made a string of tactical changes as the match wore on, withdrawing Nuno Mendes for Nuno Tavares and later replacing Joao Cancelo and Bruno Fernandes with Diogo Dalot and Joao Neves to manage the closing stages. Ronaldo himself was substituted after 67 minutes, watching the remainder of the win from the sidelines as Wales pushed for a late equalizer that never materialized.
What This Win Means for Portugal’s Title Defense
As reigning Nations League champions, Portugal could not have asked for a better platform to begin their title defense than a battling, statistically dominant win at home. The performance signals depth and firepower beyond Ronaldo, with Felix, Ramos, and Bruno Fernandes all contributing to a display that should worry future opponents in the group. For Wales, there are positives to build on despite the defeat, but Bellamy will know his squad needs bodies back from injury fast if they are to compete for points elsewhere in this campaign.
You can also check out our YouTube for more sport news @ShapHub
