In Lisbon, Portugal began the defence of their Nations League title with a narrow victory over Wales, and the decisive goal was scored not by the captain, but by João Félix. His shot from the 22th minute, deflected off Ben Davies, proved the only goal of the game, although the hosts had more than twenty attempts.
Cristiano Ronaldo, for whom this was his 234th match for the national team, created more chances than anyone else, but none of them ended in a goal. One of them was disallowed after VAR intervention for offside, another went into the side netting. In 41, he remains in the starting line-up, but the team is no longer built around him alone.
The new coach, Jorge Jesus, began his tenure with a victory, and this is no coincidence. Portugal controlled the ball and the territory, but there was a lack of sharpness precisely in the finishing phase. Félix, Ronaldo's teammate at Al-Nassr, showed that collective play can compensate for the captain's lack of individual precision.
Wales under Craig Bellamy looked organised and dangerous on the counterattack. Brennan Johnson and Lewis Koumas nearly equalised late on, but Portugal's defence, led by Rúben Dias, held firm. For the Welsh, this defeat was a reminder of the difference in class, but also of their own resilience.
The match showed how Portugal is changing: from a legend who refuses to leave, to a team where a place on the pitch must be earned anew every time. Ronaldo will still score his goals, but it is already clear — victory does not depend on him alone.
