Cristiano Ronaldo starts: Confirmed lineups for Portugal vs Nigeria in pre-World Cup 2026 international friendly

Portugal will take on Nigeria in their final international friendly before the 2026 World Cup, arriving as clear favorites despite missing Rafael Leão due to a red card. Cristiano Ronaldo is set to start for Portugal, arriving highly motivated to break his recent goal drought, though coach Roberto Martínez may restrict his playing time to 45 minutes to avoid injury. The Portuguese lineup includes Diogo Costa in goal, a back four of Nelsom Semedo, Ruben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, and Diogo Dalot, and midfielders Vitinha, João Neves, Francisco Trincão, and Bruno Fernandes, with Pedro Neto on the left wing alongside Ronaldo. Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, enter the match with a strong attacking trio of Terem Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alex Iwobi, despite defensive weaknesses that cost them a place in the tournament. Their last defeat came on August 12, 2025, and they have since recorded only wins or draws. Head coach Eric Chelle has assembled a competitive squad, with players like Moses Simon and Akor Adams adding to their offensive threat. Portugal’s attack will rely heavily on Ronaldo, who has struggled to score in recent appearances, while Pedro Neto and Gonçalo Guedes could provide support from the bench. Nigeria’s defensive errors have been a recurring issue, but their attacking prowess could force Portugal into a cautious approach, particularly without Leão’s creativity. The match serves as a crucial warm-up for Portugal ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where they aim to arrive in top form. Nigeria, though not in the tournament, will look to make the game competitive, with their attacking trio posing a direct threat to Portugal’s defense. Fans will watch closely to see if Ronaldo can break his scoring drought and whether Martínez balances his star player’s involvement to avoid injury.