Portugal kicks off training with eight players and Ronaldo

Portugal kicks off training with eight players, including Ronaldo

At Centennial Park on the outskirts of Toronto, Portugal began its preparation session for the round‑of‑16 clash with Spain at World Cup 2026. The highlight was eight athletes, among them Cristiano Ronaldo, who started the activity in the gym before stepping onto the pitch.

How was the training?

The first fifteen minutes were reserved for indoor warm‑up. Diogo Costa, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, João Neves, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão and Cristiano Ronaldo worked on mobility and recovery drills. When the main squad arrived on the field, João Cancelo, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes led passing and possession work, while the rest of the call‑ups followed under Roberto Martínez’s direction.

Who took part?

Besides the three starters from the 2‑1 win over Croatia in the round of 16, the coach kept most of the squad on the pitch. Ronaldo’s presence in the gym signals the star is still managing his workload before facing Spain. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa, still in recovery, was also seen doing strength exercises.

What does this mean for the Spain clash?

The session shows Martínez’s strategy: protect key players until the last moment while keeping match rhythm for the rest of the team. Portugal has been consistent in recent matches, as the latest stats reveal.

What’s next for Portugal?

With the Spain game scheduled for this weekend, the focus shifts to fully recovering the starters and maintaining intensity in training. The squad still has a friendly before the official date, which will serve as a final test for the line‑up aiming to reach the quarter‑finals.