Cristiano Ronaldo is starting. Again. Whatever the competition, whatever the occasion, Roberto Martínez keeps handing him the shirt — and Portugal keep lining up behind him. Portugal face DR Congo in their 2025 UEFA Nations League opening fixture, and with confirmation from both Sky Sports and BBC Sport, Ronaldo is in the XI from the first whistle. This is a developing story — we'll update as further official confirmation and match context is locked.
> Developing story: lineup confirmed by Sky Sports liveblog and BBC Sport match centre. Official FPF/UEFA confirmation pending — we'll update this piece as more context is locked.
At this point, Ronaldo's name on a Portugal team sheet lands less like news and more like a fixture of the furniture. Martínez has backed him consistently, and the Al-Nassr forward has repaid that faith often enough to keep the debate alive — even if the debate itself never really goes away.
DR Congo are no pushover on the continental stage, and Portugal will know this is the kind of Nations League opener where a slow start can cost you group momentum early. The expectation, as ever, is that Ronaldo leads the line — but the more interesting question is how much of the creative burden falls on Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and the players around him to do the work that gets him into positions.
Portugal's Nations League opener sets the tone for whatever follows in the group. Martínez will want a performance that shows his side can control a match without relying on a single moment of individual brilliance — though, knowing Ronaldo, a single moment of individual brilliance is never entirely off the table.
The man has started international football matches for over two decades. He looked at the DR Congo starting lineup and presumably felt nothing but calm.
We'll update this piece with venue details, full lineups, and match result as official confirmation comes in.
Cristiano Ronaldo is starting. Again. Whatever the competition, whatever the occasion, Roberto Martínez keeps handing him the shirt — and Portugal keep lining up behind him.
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Sky Sports — Football
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