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Portugal player ratings vs Colombia: Disjointed Cristiano Ronaldo and team fortunate to leave Miami with a draw after relentless second-half pressure

Portugal and Colombia made history in Miami — but not in a way either side would have wanted. In one of the most expensive group-stage clashes at a sweltering Miami Stadium, Los Cafeteros played out their first-ever 0-0 draw in World Cup history, and Portugal were largely to blame after squandering several clear scoring chances against their South American opponents.

Reports indicated that the cheapest ticket at Miami Stadium sold for approximately $2,600 on resale markets, making it one of the costliest group-stage fixtures. Portuguese supporters will likely feel shortchanged after this performance.

Despite boasting stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Pedro Neto, A Seleção never clicked into attacking rhythm and ultimately surrendered their slim hopes of topping Group K to Colombia. In truth, Portugal were fortunate not to lose.

The opening half was evenly balanced, even though Colombia enjoyed a 55-45 possession advantage. Bruno Fernandes had Portugal’s best opportunity in the 39th minute, firing a close-range effort that Camilo Vargas did well to save. Early in the second half, a defensive lapse from Colombia nearly gifted Portugal the lead when João Félix and Ronaldo found themselves in a two-on-one situation against Jhon Lucumí, with Vargas in goal. However, Ronaldo mistimed his run and was flagged offside.

From that point, Colombia dominated proceedings, buoyed by the overwhelming support of their fans. Los Cafeteros fired 11 shots in the second half, three of them on target, and came agonisingly close when James Rodríguez unleashed a powerful long-range strike that deflected off a Portugal defender.

In stoppage time, Davinson Sánchez seemed to have secured all three points, heading past Diogo Costa — who had been outstanding with six saves — only for the referee to rule the play offside. A VAR review confirmed the narrow decision, denying Colombia a historic win by the slimmest of margins.

As a result, Roberto Martínez’s men escaped South Florida with a single point and a second-place finish in the group. Yet, questions will persist for the Portugal manager after a match defined by poor finishing, defensive lapses, and good fortune.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Diogo Costa (9/10):

The undisputed man of the match, producing a string of vital saves. Without the 26-year-old’s heroics, Portugal would almost certainly have lost and dropped level with DR Congo on points in Group K.

João Cancelo (6/10):

Delivered an average performance before surprisingly being substituted at halftime. Worked hard on the right flank and was tidy in possession, but lacked penetration.

Rúben Dias (7/10):

Appeared a yard off the pace for much of the game but redeemed himself with a crucial header to block Luis Suárez’s close-range attempt in the 90th minute.

Renato Veiga (8/10):

Outstanding throughout, playing a key role in keeping Colombia’s persistent attack under control.

Nuno Mendes (7/10):

More effective going forward, completing six passes into the final third while also registering four recoveries in defence.

Midfield

Rúben Neves (6/10):

An unexpected starter ahead of João Neves, a decision Martínez corrected in the second half. Involved heavily in play but lacked precision in his passing and struggled to connect with Fernandes or Ronaldo in advanced areas.

Vitinha (8/10):

Impeccable in distribution, completing 54 of 54 passes – one of the highest totals in the match. Created chances and tirelessly covered the pitch.

Bruno Fernandes (6/10):

Quiet for the first 70 minutes before becoming more involved late on. Passed accurately, completing all five of his long balls, but lacked sharpness in the final third. Missed a major chance that could have changed the game and will regret not converting earlier opportunities. Helped defensively in the closing stages.

Attack

João Félix (6/10):

Created what might have been the biggest opportunity of the night, only for Ronaldo’s mistimed run to nullify it. Worked hard defensively but his limited pace reduced his impact from wide areas.

Pedro Neto (6/10):

Showed pace but lacked directness in his play, failing to make the most of his bursts forward.

Cristiano Ronaldo (5/10):

In his prime, Ronaldo would likely have thrived against Colombia’s compact defence, exploiting the spaces with ease. At 41, however, he no longer possesses the same acceleration. His influence in link-up play was minimal, and he squandered three or four opportunities — at least two of which he would normally bury. A frustrating evening for the captain.

Substitutes & Manager

Diogo Dalot (7/10):

Contributed effectively on both ends after coming on for the second half.

João Neves (5/10):

Many questioned Martínez’s decision to bench the PSG midfielder, but his limited impact after coming on perhaps justified the call. Worked hard but failed to influence proceedings.

Samu (6/10):

Introduced for energy and did his job adequately.

Rafael Leão (7/10):

The AC Milan winger impressed in his brief 20-minute cameo, completing three successful dribbles — the most in the match — and looking dangerous every time he received the ball.

Matheus Nunes (NA):

Came on in the 90th minute with little time to influence the game.

Roberto Martínez (5/10):

Some puzzling selection choices and, apart from one match, he still hasn’t found a way to integrate Ronaldo effectively. The current Portugal side lacks attacking directness, and Martínez must adjust tactics to maximise the team’s potential. He could take inspiration from Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina setup.