Portugal vs Wales; UEFA Nations League Group A4
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Portugal vs Wales. UEFA Nations League Group A4.
Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Portugal 1-0 Wales: Joao Felix spares Cristiano Ronaldo's blushes in Nations League win
Report as Wales suffer defeat on their return to the Nations League Group A with Joao Felix's deflected first-half effort the difference in Lisbon; Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score from any of his seven shots, including an easy chance in the second half
Thursday 24 September 2026 22:17, UK
Wales fell to an opening 1-0 Nations League defeat to Portugal as Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank in Lisbon.
On an evening when Ronaldo missed a slew of chances and had a second-half effort ruled out by a VAR intervention, it was his Al Nassr team-mate Joao Felix who settled the contest.
Ronaldo was winning cap number 234 after deciding to prolong his international career following a disappointing World Cup, but his contribution ended when substituted after 67 minutes.
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The manner of Felix's 22nd-minute goal was cruel on Wales, deflecting off Ben Davies, but it could not be denied that Portugal deserved their victory by having 22 shots to five.
Being pitched into a tough Nations League A group with Portugal, Norway and Denmark was Wales' reward for promotion two years ago.
But boss Craig Bellamy - who was on the brink of leaving in the summer to join Burnley - had welcomed the challenge as an opportunity to improve their seeding for the 2028 European Championship.
Ronaldo's frustrating night - the key moments
1: Ronaldo starts Jorge Jesus' first game in charge to earn record-extending 234th Portugal cap.
36: STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL! Ronaldo can't get enough elevation on his free-kick to test the Wales goalkeeper.
37: WIDE AGAIN! Ronaldo sends a volley off target from a tight angle on his left foot.
40: SHOT ON TARGET! At the fifth attempt, Ronaldo hits the target for the first time, but it is a comfortable save for Danny Ward.
49: HOW HAS HE MISSED?! Ronaldo fails to convert from Ruben Neves' cross with goal gaping.
59: NO GOAL! Ronaldo finds the back of the net only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
68: NIGHT OVER! Ronaldo subbed off, ending the night with an xG of 1.32, more than Wales' entire team.
Wales skipper Davies 'disappointed' not to draw
Wales' stand-in captain Ben Davies to BBC Sport:
"On another day it could have gone another way. It's disappointing but we played good football.
"We could have done better, but it's not an easy place to come. There are positives to take from it.
"We have no doubt that we were going to fight. That's the bare minimum. We showed a lot of guts to come out here and have a good go.
"It's a shot from outside the box which could go anywhere [that won the game]. Unfortunately, it took a deflection off me. They had other good chances, too.
"We are more than capable of playing teams at this level. We just played one of the best and gave them a good go. I'm looking forward to the next one."
Fernandes: Portugal controlled the game
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes to BBC Sport:
"I think it was a very good game. We controlled it and had a lot of chances but were not capable of scoring more. We wanted the three points and got that.
"We always have a point to prove. The expectations are high on ourselves. It's a positive win for us.
"We knew they [Wales] were good. If they play in the Premier League, they need to be at a high level.
"We knew they could cause us problems. We scored one, and we didn't concede. That's the big thing."
