World Cup Friendly: Portugal Name Ronaldo, Bruno for Nigeria Clash
Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez has named Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes in a 27-man squad ahead of a friendly against Nigeria.
The European side, reigning UEFA Nations League champions, will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being drawn in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Portugal will prepare for the tournament with friendlies, including a match against Nigeria on June 10 at the Dr Magalhães Pessoa Stadium in Portugal.
The friendly comes a week before Portugal’s opening World Cup game against DR Congo at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play a central role in what could be his final World Cup.
Bruno Fernandes was included in the squad following a strong club season.
Both Ronaldo and Fernandes were part of Portugal’s last meeting with Nigeria in November 2022, which ended 4-0 in Portugal’s favour, although Ronaldo did not play.
Martínez also selected several Premier League-based players to balance experience and emerging talent across Europe’s top leagues.
The squad includes goalkeepers Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva, and Ricardo Velho.
Defenders in the squad are Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Diogo Dalot, Gonçalo Inácio, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, Matheus Nunes, and Nelson Semedo.
Midfielders selected include Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, João Neves, Vitinha, Rúben Neves, and Samuel Costa.
The forward line features Ronaldo, Rafael Leão, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, Pedro Neto, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, and Gonçalo Guedes.
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has not yet announced his squad but confirmed he will name a strong team for the friendly.
Chelle said the match will serve as a key test for the Super Eagles despite not qualifying for the World Cup.
Fans in Nigeria expressed excitement about the clash, seeing it as an opportunity to test the team against one of Europe’s elite sides.
A sports analyst noted that Ronaldo’s presence makes Portugal a formidable opponent and will provide the Super Eagles with a real measure of their strengths and weaknesses.
The friendly is expected to attract attention from football fans in both countries, offering a preview of the competitive form ahead of the World Cup.
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