Wales suffered their first Nations League loss of the campaign, falling 1-0 to Portugal in a match that saw Cristiano Ronaldo struggle to make an impact in Lisbon. While the Portuguese star missed several opportunities and even had a second‑half strike annulled after a VAR review, it was his Al Nassr teammate João Félix who ultimately decided the outcome, netting the decisive goal.

Ronaldo, who was awarded his 234th cap as he chose to extend his international career following a disappointing World Cup, was taken off the pitch after 67 minutes, his contribution cut short by the lack of goals. Félix’s 22nd‑minute finish was somewhat cruel for Wales, as the ball took a deflection off defender Ben Davies before finding the net. Nevertheless, Portugal’s dominance was evident, registering 22 shots compared with Wales’ five. Being placed in a challenging Nations League Group A alongside Portugal, Norway and Denmark is the reward Wales earned after their promotion two years ago.

Manager Craig Bellamy, who was on the verge of leaving for Burnley during the summer, embraced the test, viewing it as a chance to improve Wales’ seeding ahead of the 2028 European Championship. Key moments of the match included: - 1: Ronaldo started Jorge Jesus’ inaugural match in charge, securing a record‑extending 234th cap for Portugal.

- 36: A free‑kick from Ronaldo clanged straight into the wall, failing to trouble the Welsh goalkeeper. - 37: Ronaldo attempted a tight‑angle volley with his left foot, which went wide. - 40: On his fifth attempt, Ronaldo finally hit the target, but Danny Ward made a comfortable save. - 49: Ronaldo missed a clear‑cut chance from a Ruben Neves cross, leaving the goal wide open.

- 59: The Portuguese forward thought he had scored, only for VAR to disallow the goal for off‑side. - 68: Ronaldo was substituted, ending the night with an expected goals (xG) value of 1.32 – higher than the entire Welsh side’s combined xG.

After the game, Bellamy praised Ronaldo, describing him as "one of the greatest players of all generations, not just this generation." He added, "You have to plan for him because he's beyond dangerous, even at his age. He's a superstar, and I'd love to think I'd have the opportunity to be up against him again, but I don't know, maybe time's ticking." Regarding his own team's performance, Bellamy said, "It was a difficult game for us.

We had to suffer a lot. I think that's the longest we've been in a game without the ball.

I thought we could have done more with the ball. But I have to be honest, I'm beyond proud as well. We have a lot of players who weren't here. A lot of players who don't play week‑in, week‑out.

So for them to use the energy they were able to, we've got to have a big heart. They've always shown that and they showed that again. I think there's more for us, so that's something we always look at as a positive." Stand‑in captain Ben Davies spoke to BBC Sport, noting, "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." Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes also shared his thoughts, stating, "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." The match highlighted the fine margins that can decide international fixtures. While Portugal’s firepower and shot volume were decisive, Wales demonstrated resilience and heart, especially given the number of fringe players forced into action.

Bellamy’s pride in his side’s effort, despite the defeat, underscores the belief that the experience gained against top‑tier opposition will serve Wales well as they aim for a higher seeding in future European competitions. Overall, the night was a mixed bag: a frustrating evening for Ronaldo, who failed to find the net despite numerous chances, and a proud moment for Bellamy, who saw his side battle valiantly against a superior opponent. The result leaves Portugal with three points and a confidence boost, while Wales can take solace in their performance and look ahead to the next challenge in the Nations League schedule.

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