Portugal wasted no time making a statement in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener. Midfielder João Neves put the ball in the net just six minutes into the match against DR Congo, giving the Portuguese side a 1-0 lead at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The goal came from a Pedro Neto cross, which Neves met with a header. Clinical, efficient, and exactly the kind of start Roberto Martínez’s squad was looking for on June 17.
Ronaldo rewrites the record books, again
Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 years and 132 days old, became the oldest outfield player to start a FIFA World Cup match. This is his sixth World Cup appearance, a feat that ties him with a small club of legends who have managed to stretch their international careers across that many tournaments.
Portugal’s squad around him includes Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Nuno Mendes, all of whom featured in a lineup that controlled the tempo after the early breakthrough.
