Portugal beat Nigeria 2-1 in Leiria ahead of World Cup

Portugal beat Nigeria 2-1 in an international friendly in Leiria on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, extending their winning run in World Cup warm-up matches. Roberto Martinez’s team followed a 2-1 victory over Chile with another one-goal win as they completed their on-field preparations for the finals.

Pedro Neto opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, but Nigeria responded 14 minutes later when Akor Adams equalised. Portugal regained the lead in the 75th through Francisco Conceicao, who cut inside from the right and curled a finish into the far corner.

Cristiano Ronaldo started and played 65 minutes without scoring, missing clear chances in both halves. The 41-year-old is set to make a record-tying sixth World Cup appearance when Portugal’s tournament begins next week.

Nigeria, which failed to qualify for the World Cup, used the match to test options and manage minutes after a long club season. Officials said Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were rested, with attention shifting to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Martinez uses mass changes to assess roles and fitness

Martinez rotated heavily in the second half, making eight substitutions at the break as he spread minutes across the squad. Portugal made 11 replacements in total, using the friendly as a final check on roles, fitness levels and match sharpness ahead of their opening group game.

Portugal maintained attacking threat despite the changes, with Conceicao’s winner coming from one of the players introduced from the bench. Ronaldo’s missed opportunities, however, suggested Portugal created enough to win by a bigger margin on the night.

Portugal’s World Cup opener set for Houston

Portugal will begin their World Cup campaign next Wednesday against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Houston, Texas. They have been drawn in Group K alongside the DRC, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

For Nigeria, the focus returns to upcoming competitive fixtures and Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, with squad management likely to remain a priority following an extended club season for key players.

Portugal’s next task is to carry friendly momentum into tournament matches, starting with an opening group-stage test that will quickly show how Martinez’s rotation plans translate into points.