Four years ago, it would have seemed utterly inconceivable that Cristiano Ronaldo would play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But at the age of 40, the Portugal and Al-Nassr forward could have another shot to add the only thing missing from his incredible resume.
Seleçao das Quinas have to get there first, of course, but they’re off to a great start, sitting atop Group F after comfortable wins over both Armenia and Hungary. Tonight, Portugal will host the Republic of Ireland, which sits at the bottom of the table after picking up just a draw against Hungary. The match will start at 2:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. local) at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon.
Seleçao das Quinas are -600 favorites to win and +550 to draw at DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Boys in Green are +2500.
Portugal vs. Ireland prediction, pick
Ronaldo added yet another triumph to his improbable, incredible legacy last summer when he captained Portugal to a UEFA Nations League title over favored Spain, scoring the equalizing goal in a match that Seleçao das Quinas eventually won on penalties. So far in World Cup Qualifying, he’s been Portugal’s best player, scoring a brace in the 5-0 win over Armenia and converting a penalty in the 3-2 win over Hungary. He’s hardly done it alone, of course — João Cancelo has a pair of goals and a pair of assists, and his Al-Nassr teammate João Félix also scored a brace against Armenia — but the defensive attention that he draws at his age is remarkable. Having arguably the world’s best young defender in PSG’s Nuno Mendes, as well as Vitinha and Bernardo Silva in midfield, doesn’t hurt, of course, and neither does having a brick wall between the sticks in Porto’s Diogo Costa, but Seleçao das Quinas’ attack runs through Ronaldo now as much as ever. He leads all players in shots and shots on target per 90 minutes in European qualifying.
Ireland, meanwhile, has significantly under-played its talent level. The Boys in Green have dropped from 28th in the world six years ago to 61st today despite producing plenty of talents, with Roma striker Evan Ferguson reaching the highest ever market value for a player from the Emerald Isle (65 million Euros at Transfermarkt in 2023). Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher made 10 starts last season for Premier League title-winning Liverpool before becoming Brentford’s top choice this season. But Ferguson has never turned his tantalizing potential into material production, netting just once between stints with Brighton and West Ham last season, and he’s only registered an assist in five appearances (three starts) with the Italian side, while Kelleher has been one of the Prem’s worst goalkeepers this season. Ferguson has scored both of Ireland’s qualifying matches, and Kelleher has saved 10 of the 13 shots on target he’s faced, but the Boys in Green just haven’t done a good enough job in the back to let Armenia, a team 42 places worse in the FIFA World Rankings, out-shoot them.
It’s hard to imagine a world in which Portugal doesn’t win this one comfortably, especially at home, where it thrashed Poland, 5-1, and Denmark, 5-2, in last season’s Nations League. Cancelo is hurt, as is PSG youngster João Neves, but Seleçao das Quinas can simply start Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva, who’s arguably an upgrade over Neves. They can also replace Cancelo with Diogo Dalot, a regular Premier League starter over the last five seasons for Manchester United and a player who would have the highest market value on Ireland’s squad. The last time these two teams faced off, Portugal won 3-0 in a preparatory friendly for Euro 2024, with Ronaldo scoring a brace. A year and a half later, the squads look a little different but the score line could be the same.
