Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal against Spain in a huge World Cup 2026 round-of-16 showdown today.
The 41-year-old has been in middling form for the Selecao this summer, but has so far remained a permanent fixture in Roberto Martinez’s starting XI and led the line as usual in Thursday’s chaotic last-gasp 2-1 knockout win over Croatia.
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His performance was not stellar, though he did get himself on the scoresheet with a penalty 20 minutes from time.
It was substitute Goncalo Ramos who scored the injury-time winner, and the question has been raised as to whether the new AC Milan frontman should get the nod in Dallas on Monday.
It is a conundrum for Martinez, who has previously refused to even contemplate dropping Ronaldo.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner looked visibly unhappy at being substituted with 10 minutes to go against Croatia, and would presumably be distinctly unimpressed not to make the team for such a high-profile game against Portugal’s biggest rivals.
But he leads the attack once more against Spain, with a quarter-final place on the line against either co-hosts the USA or Belgium.
It could well end up being Ronaldo’s final World Cup outing, having confirmed on the eve of the match that this sixth appearance on football’s grandest stage will be his last.
Elsewhere, Joao Neves replaced namesake Ruben Neves in midfield against Croatia and keeps his place here.
Portugal XI: Costa, Dias, Veiga, Cancelo, Mendes, Fernandes, J. Neves, Vitinha, Ronaldo, Feliz, Neto
Subs: Sa, Silva, Semedo, Araujo, Dalot, Inacio, Costa, Nunes, B. Silva, R. Neves, Ramos, Trincao, Leao, Guerdes, Conceicao
Injured: None
Time and date: 8pm BST on Monday June 6, 2026
Venue: Dallas Stadium
How to watch: BBC One
