Portugal opened their Nations League campaign with a hard-fought victory over Wales in Lisbon, courtesy of a deflected first-half strike from Joao Felix. However, it proved to be a highly frustrating night for Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a second-half goal ruled out by VAR, denying him his 147th international strike and stalling his pursuit of 1,000 career goals.
Wales manager Craig Bellamy expressed total awe for former Premier League opponent Cristiano Ronaldo as his side prepares to face Portugal at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. The Welsh head coach backed the 41-year-old forward to reach 1,000 career goals, provided he stays quiet in Lisbon.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo spoke at the Portugal Football Summit ahead of his side's UEFA Nations League opener against Wales at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. The 39-year-old backed new head coach Jorge Jesus, shrugged off media criticism, and reiterated his desire to reach 1,000 career goals.
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus called Cristiano Ronaldo "a symbol of Portugal" while confirming the captain will start against Wales in their UEFA Nations League opener. Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit, the manager highlighted Ronaldo's immense global impact while maintaining that selection remains performance-driven.
Borussia Dortmund forward Fabio Silva opened up on his long-awaited return to the Portugal national team after a two-year absence. The 24-year-old striker expressed excitement about working under manager Jorge Jesus while insisting that sharing an attacking role with idol Cristiano Ronaldo remains a pure privilege.
Real Madrid star Bernardo Silva was deployed alongside defenders in Jorge Jesus' first training session as Portugal manager. The tactical decision immediately evoked memories of their famous 2014 pre-season experiment together at Benfica.
New Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has named his first 25-player squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. The selection retains skipper Cristiano Ronaldo while introducing four key additions as the reigning champions begin their title defence in Group A4.
Gareth Bale’s standing in the pantheon of footballing greats remains a hot topic of debate long after his retirement from the professional game. While the Welsh wizard conquered Europe multiple times with Real Madrid, questions often persist regarding his legacy compared to other British icons like Wayne Rooney.
Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to announce his retirement from international football after one final appearance for Portugal. The forward is expected to bid farewell to the national team in a Nations League match against Wales, concluding a record-breaking career where he became the most capped player and greatest goalscorer in international football history.
Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
Former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey has officially moved into management after being clinical in his decision to hang up his boots. The 35-year-old has been confirmed as the new head coach of Oxford United, marking a significant new chapter for one of Wales' greatest ever players.
Former Arsenal and Wales star Aaron Ramsey has officially retired from professional football with immediate effect. The 35-year-old playmaker, who remains one of the most decorated players in Welsh history, calls time on a glittering career that spanned nearly two decades and included three FA Cup triumphs with the Gunners.
Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers manager Michael O'Neill has provoked a fierce backlash from Championship relegation rivals. Balancing his dual roles, the 56-year-old is accused of a major conflict of interest after heavily utilising key players from clubs battling Blackburn for survival in a 1-1 friendly draw, while resting his own prospect until the 80th minute.
UEFA is set to freeze ticket prices broadly for Euro 2028, ensuring football remains accessible across the UK and Ireland. This commitment is in direct contrast to FIFA’s widely criticised pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup in North America. By prioritising affordability and larger allocations for national associations, European football's governing body aims to protect fans from the hyper-inflation currently seen in global sports.
Former Wales international James Chester has explained why Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac may be “the best owners in football”. A couple of Hollywood superstars arrived at Wrexham when completing a stunning takeover in 2021. They have overseen three successive promotions across a five-year reign, with huge investment being made in the football club and local community.
Craig Bellamy has addressed links to the Celtic job following a crushing blow to his aspirations with the Welsh national team. The 46-year-old has garnered significant praise for his rejuvenation of the squad, guiding them to a World Cup play-off semi-final where they were eventually eliminated on penalties by Bosnia.
Former Northern Ireland international Chris Brunt has sensationally hit out at UEFA over the scheduling of what he describes as a "pointless" friendly against Wales. Both nations saw their World Cup dreams extinguished during the play-off semi-finals, yet they are still required to travel to Cardiff for a fixture that has no bearing on tournament qualification.
It was a night of equal misfortune for Wales and the Republic of Ireland, who were eliminated from World Cup qualifying. Both teams lost leads in the final minutes before losing painful penalty shootouts to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czechia, respectively.
Craig Bellamy produced a classic no-nonsense moment during his latest media briefing, shutting down a reporter who attempted to ask a question relating to Mohamed Salah's Liverpool exit. The Wales boss made it clear that his only priority is the upcoming World Cup play-off.
The final international window before the end of the 2025-26 club season is here. For most of the globe's traditional powerhouses, this month is about finetuning ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. But not every team has the luxury of such forward planning, with several big-hitters still yet to punch their ticket to the tournament.
Wales
