Portugal and Spain will meet for their second World Cup encounter, where an Iberian Derby could ensue. Luis de la Fuente’s side come into this match-up having defeated Austria 3-0 in their previous outing.
Martinez will likely stick with a winning formula, with Ronaldo (age 41) set to start as Portugal’s focal point in attack. In the highly anticipated Portugal National Football Team Vs Spain National Football Team Lineups, experienced stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Rúben Dias are expected to retain their places, while Spain are likely to rely on key players including Pedri, Rodri, Lamine Yamal, and Mikel Oyarzabal. The clash promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between two of Europe’s strongest national teams, with both managers expected to field their strongest possible starting XIs.
| No. | Date | Competition | Result | Portugal Starting XI | Spain Starting XI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 Jun 2025 | UEFA Nations League Final | Portugal 2–2 Spain (Portugal won 5–3 pens) | Diogo Costa, João Neves, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo, Francisco Conceição | Unai Simón, Pedro Porro, Robin Le Normand, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella, Martín Zubimendi, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Mikel Oyarzabal |
| 2 | 27 Sep 2022 | UEFA Nations League | Portugal 0–1 Spain | Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Danilo Pereira, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Neves, William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo | Unai Simón, Dani Carvajal, Hugo Guillamón, Pau Torres, José Gayà, Rodri, Koke, Carlos Soler, Ferran Torres, Álvaro Morata, Pablo Sarabia |
| 3 | 2 Jun 2022 | UEFA Nations League | Spain 1–1 Portugal | Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Pepe, Danilo Pereira, Raphaël Guerreiro, Bruno Fernandes, João Moutinho, Bernardo Silva, Otávio, André Silva, Rafael Leão | Unai Simón, César Azpilicueta, Diego Llorente, Pau Torres, Jordi Alba, Carlos Soler, Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Álvaro Morata, Pablo Sarabia |
| 4 | 4 Jun 2021 | International Friendly | Spain 0–0 Portugal | Rui Patrício, João Cancelo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Raphaël Guerreiro, Danilo Pereira, Sérgio Oliveira, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo | Unai Simón, Marcos Llorente, Eric García, Pau Torres, José Gayà, Busquets, Koke, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Álvaro Morata, Pablo Sarabia |
| 5 | 7 Oct 2020 | International Friendly | Portugal 0–0 Spain | Rui Patrício, João Cancelo, Pepe, Rúben Dias, Raphaël Guerreiro, Danilo Pereira, Renato Sanches, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota | David de Gea, Jesús Navas, Sergio Ramos, Pau Torres, José Gayà, Sergio Busquets, Dani Ceballos, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Gerard Moreno, Dani Olmo |
| 6 | 15 Jun 2018 | FIFA World Cup | Portugal 3–3 Spain | Rui Patrício, Cédric Soares, Pepe, José Fonte, Raphaël Guerreiro, William Carvalho, João Moutinho, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Gonçalo Guedes, Cristiano Ronaldo | David de Gea, Nacho, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Koke, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Isco, Diego Costa |
| 7 | 27 Jun 2012 | UEFA Euro Semi-final | Portugal 0–0 Spain (Spain won on penalties) | Rui Patrício, João Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão, Miguel Veloso, João Moutinho, Raul Meireles, Nani, Hélder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo | Iker Casillas, Álvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Álvaro Negredo |
| 8 | 17 Nov 2010 | International Friendly | Portugal 4–0 Spain | Eduardo, João Pereira, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão, João Moutinho, Raul Meireles, Carlos Martins, Nani, Hugo Almeida, Cristiano Ronaldo | Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Andrés Iniesta, David Villa, Fernando Llorente |
| 9 | 29 Jun 2010 | FIFA World Cup Round of 16 | Spain 1–0 Portugal | Eduardo, Ricardo Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão, Tiago, Pepe, Raul Meireles, Simão, Hugo Almeida, Cristiano Ronaldo | Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, David Villa, Fernando Torres |
| 10 | 20 Jun 2004 | UEFA Euro Group Stage | Portugal 1–0 Spain | Ricardo, Miguel, Jorge Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Costinha, Maniche, Deco, Luís Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pauleta | Iker Casillas, Michel Salgado, Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol, Raúl Bravo, David Albelda, Xabi Alonso, Vicente, Joaquín, Raúl, Fernando Torres |
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Unai Simón, David Raya, Joan García |
| Defenders | Pedro Porro, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Alejandro Grimaldo, Eric García, Marc Pubill |
| Midfielders | Rodri, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Gavi, Mikel Merino, Álex Baena, Marcos Llorente |
| Forwards | Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Borja Iglesias, Víctor Muñoz |
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Jun 2025 | UEFA Nations League Final | Munich, Germany | Portugal 2–2 Spain (Portugal won 5–3 on penalties) | Portugal |
| 27 Sep 2022 | UEFA Nations League | Braga, Portugal | Portugal 0–1 Spain | Spain |
| 02 Jun 2022 | UEFA Nations League | Seville, Spain | Spain 1–1 Portugal | Draw |
| 04 Jun 2021 | International Friendly | Madrid, Spain | Spain 0–0 Portugal | Draw |
| 07 Oct 2020 | International Friendly | Lisbon, Portugal | Portugal 0–0 Spain | Draw |
| 15 Jun 2018 | FIFA World Cup | Sochi, Russia | Portugal 3–3 Spain | Draw |
| 27 Jun 2012 | UEFA Euro Semi-final | Donetsk, Ukraine | Portugal 0–0 Spain (Spain won 4–2 on penalties) | Spain* |
| 17 Nov 2010 | International Friendly | Lisbon, Portugal | Portugal 4–0 Spain | Portugal |
| 29 Jun 2010 | FIFA World Cup Round of 16 | Cape Town, South Africa | Portugal 0–1 Spain | Spain |
| 20 Nov 2003 | International Friendly | Guimarães, Portugal | Portugal 0–3 Spain | Spain |
| Statistic | Portugal | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 10 | 10 |
| Wins | 2 | 3 |
| Draws | 5 | 5 |
| Goals Scored | 9 | 9 |
| Penalty Shootout Wins | 1 | 1 |
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal and Spain’s match in the knockout stage will undoubtedly be one of the highlights, with Iberian rivals facing each other in an exciting showdown that could decide who advances to the quarterfinals. Both teams are evenly matched; having each played four matches so far this tournament and won two matches each. Both sides boast strong defensive lineups while possessing attacking talents which should make this match both entertaining and engaging to watch.
Cristiano Ronaldo has long been recognized for his ability to thrive under pressure, and this has been evident throughout his career. In a dramatic last-32 tie against Croatia he scored the winning goal and also scored in Portugal’s opening victory against Morocco – notching an incredible record at major tournaments and being considered amongst the greatest ever players at this stage of competitions.
Roberto Martinez will resist temptation to alter a successful formula, so there should be no reason for him to drop 41-year-old midfielder Victor Lindelof from his starting lineup. Furthermore, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Dias proved themselves against Croatia as center-back pairing.
However, the coach will need to improve both midfield and defense to ensure his team succeeds in this crucial World Cup match. He should team Joao Neves and Vitinha together in the middle of the park while Renato Veiga and Joao Moutinho should serve as central defenders; Rafael Leao should play left winger; it is up to him to maximize any attacking opportunities presented himself; however despite struggling at this World Cup tournament. He remains an essential component of their squad.
Lamine Yamal
The Portugal National Football Team (Portuguese: Selecao Portuguesa de Futebol) is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation. They represent Portugal in international men’s football competition and call Estadio Nacional in Oeiras home, located near their primary training ground and FPF headquarters – they currently rank fifth on FIFA World Rankings.
Spain and Portugal will meet again in an international competition when the 2026 UEFA Nations League final takes place, after having first met at the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final which Spain won 4-1. Both advanced to quarterfinals at this year’s World Cup with wins over Austria 3-0 and Croatia 2-1 respectively in their round-of-32 matches.
Spain and Portugal both boast an abundance of top young talent in their squads, which bodes well for both nations’ futures. These players could become superstars both within their clubs and national teams and could eventually form a dominant force across Europe in years to come.
Lamine Yamal of Barcelona is one of the most exciting prospects in world football. He has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and could make waves this year against Spain when he takes on PSG defender Nuno Mendes for an individual battle that should provide ample chances to demonstrate their talents. This match will serve as an ideal platform to demonstrate this talent.
Mikel Oyarzabal
At AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Spain and Portugal will face off for a place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. They have met at this stage three times prior to this edition – Roberto Martinez’s team narrowly defeated Croatia while Luis de la Fuente’s rolled to an easy win against Austria in their respective knockout matches.
Both teams possess plenty of talent. However, it will be interesting to see whether Portugal can keep pace with Spain as they begin their comeback. Players like Joao Neves, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Inacio Vitinha and Francisco Conceicao must perform at their peak for Portugal if they wish to progress past this phase.
Spain have also shown themselves to be worthy contenders for the crown, topping Group H with three victories (0-0 against Cape Verde, four 4-0 wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, then their opening knockout match against Austria where they controlled possession and produced ten shots on target with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice and Pedro Porro notching three goals to give them a 3-0 win).
Both teams will likely field full strength starting elevens for this matchup. Robin Le Normand has made an excellent recovery from injury and should take his place at right back for Spain.
Dani Vivian and Pau Cubarsi should provide cover defensively while Isco Alarcon and Mikel Merino should provide control and vision midfield. Yeremi Pino and Juan Cucurella could also feature for Spain; Mikel Oyarzabal stands out with 27 international goals scored since 2015 with Real Sociedad; making him an excellent goal scorer for his national team team counterpart.
Pedro Porro
Pedro Porro’s performance on the left flank has been excellent, so it should come as no surprise if he secures his selection here. Francisco Conceicao should face no competition in starting. Joao Neves has shown promise since replacing Ruben Neves against Croatia and should continue in midfield.
Rafael Leao may still be finding it tough to stay consistent but when at his best he is electrifying. Absorbing pressure from opponents with his pace and direct running ability, Leao could cause Spain problems with their direct play and goal scoring ability. Joao Felix should continue impressing on the right as well with his direct running and goal scoring prowess.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains in doubt and whether Goncalo Ramos will replace him in the starting eleven, but Martinez should likely not interfere too heavily given he hasn’t performed at his best recently.
Spain will look to build on their impressive group stage performances when they face Portugal in Dallas Stadium for their opening knockout matchup. Luis de la Fuente’s men experienced difficulty against Cape Verde but managed to come back strong with wins against Saudi Arabia and Austria respectively before falling 3-0 against Austria for an emphatic final score.
As expected, several key players are expected to miss out due to injuries. Yeremy Pino (shoulder) and Nico Williams (abductor) will both miss the entirety of the tournament due to shoulder and abductor concerns respectively, but others such as Sergio Busquets, Dani Carvajal, Marcos Alonso and Aymeric Laporte may play key roles nonetheless.
Marc Cucurella
Marc Cucurella will hope to join Spain’s stellar defence as it battles Portugal on Monday in Dallas. After impressing in his debut for their national side, Brighton defender has shown promise on his first appearance for Spain at this World Cup and hopes he can maintain his spot when facing them on Monday evening.
Cucurella is an experienced, physical defender who can play in multiple positions. He started his career at Barcelona, appearing over 100 La Liga appearances for their reserves before switching to Eibar and Getafe before finally signing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021 and helping win both Conference League Championship and FIFA Club World Cup three years later.
He is an adept passer of the ball who can provide cover for a back four, and also an aerial threat who can win crosses in the box. Being so versatile makes him an excellent addition to Portugal’s squad as an alternative center-back.
Spain, managed by Luis de la Fuente, are one of only two teams yet to concede a goal in the competition, making them one of the tournament’s toughest defensive units. The Portugal National Football Team Vs Spain National Football Team Lineups will play a decisive role in determining the outcome, with Portugal’s attackers needing to be at their very best to break down Spain’s disciplined back line. Likewise, Portugal’s defence must produce its strongest performance of the tournament if they are to secure a place in the semi-finals.
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