Cristiano Ronaldo made his long-awaited return to the Portugal national team during their UEFA Nations League match against Wales. The crowd at the home venue expressed their support as soon as he stepped onto the pitch. This match marked Ronaldo’s first appearance for Portugal following a disappointing performance in the FIFA World Cup. Despite the earlier setback, the fans showed unwavering backing for their star player throughout the game.
Every time the 41-year-old got on the ball around the Wales box, the noise from the stands went up. Ronaldo made his Portugal debut back in 2003 and has gone on to score a record 146 international goals. Felix felt Portugal had enough chances to score more against Wales, pointing to their 13 shots in the first half.
He said Wales failed to create a clear-cut opportunity, while Portugal had several, and believes more goals will come if they continue to play in the same way. “We had 13 shots in the first half, that’s a lot,” said Felix. Ronaldo remains at the centre of Portugal’s attack, as has been the case for much of the last two decades. “I can’t recall them having a single clear-cut chance; we had several. You can expect this from us.
We only scored one today but, if we carry on like this, we’ll score more.”
Portugal Secures Narrow Victory Over Opponents
Portugal clinched a 1-0 victory in their latest match, with Joao Felix scoring the only goal in the 22nd minute. Despite his efforts, Cristiano Ronaldo did not score, having a goal disallowed for offside. Ronaldo was substituted in the 67th minute and received a standing ovation from the home fans, underscoring his enduring significance to the national team, even as he approaches 1,000 career goals. Portugal’s win adds to their success in the Nations League, where Ronaldo previously captained the team to victory in 2025.
