Portugal Beat Chile 2-1 — Leão Red Card and Ronaldo Subbed Off at Halftime

Portugal got the World Cup warmup win they needed — but not without some serious drama. Roberto Martínez's side beat Chile 2-1 at Lisbon's Estádio Nacional do Jamor on Saturday, June 6, with Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes scoring the goals. But the match will be remembered just as much for Rafael Leão being sent off for punching an opponent at halftime — and for Cristiano Ronaldo being substituted at the break.

The Drama: Leão and Román Both See Red

The most explosive moment of the match came at the end of the first half. Leão got into a heated altercation with Chile defender Iván Román after feeling he had been fouled. Tempers boiled over — Leão was caught throwing a punch, Román reacted furiously, and referee Luca Zufferli showed both players straight red cards on the stroke of halftime.

Portugal were reduced to 10 men for the entire second half. Chile also had to play with 10 men.

It's a significant blow for Martínez's World Cup preparations. Leão — one of Portugal's most dangerous attacking weapons — now faces a potential suspension heading into the tournament. Portugal open the 2026 World Cup against DR Congo in Houston on June 17. Whether Leão's red card carries over into competitive fixtures will be determined by FIFA's disciplinary committee.

Ronaldo Subbed at Halftime — Then Portugal Score Twice

The other headline: Cristiano Ronaldo started but was replaced at halftime as part of a planned rotation. His exit raised eyebrows among fans — but what followed justified the decision entirely.

Ronaldo's replacement, Gonçalo Guedes, made an immediate impact — scoring Portugal's opening goal in the 59th minute after a precise pass from Gonçalo Neto. Guedes finished clinically from close range to break the deadlock.

Bruno Fernandes doubled the lead in the 74th minute with a spectacular curling strike from outside the area — his 29th international goal for Portugal, placing him level with Nuno Gomes for fifth in Portugal's all-time scoring list. Even without Ronaldo, Portugal showed they have multiple match-winners.

Chile pulled one back in stoppage time through Lucas Cepeda — finishing clinically past Rui Silva to make it 2-1. But Portugal held on for the win.

World Cup Picture: What This Means for Portugal

Portugal head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup in good shape — but with a few question marks:

The Leão situation is the biggest concern. If he receives a tournament ban, Martínez loses one of his most electric wide attackers for the opener. Portugal have one more warmup game — against Nigeria on June 10 — before their World Cup begins.

Ronaldo's World Cup record run continues. At 41 years old, Ronaldo is set to make a record-tying sixth World Cup appearance when Portugal face DR Congo on June 17 — equaling the record he already shares with several players. A seventh appearance at age 45 in 2030 would be beyond extraordinary.

Portugal's Group K: Portugal face Congo DR (June 17, Houston), Uzbekistan, and Colombia. They are heavy favourites to advance from the group stage.

Bruno Fernandes — stripped of the captaincy at Manchester United but thriving on the international stage — looks razor sharp. Bernardo Silva, Leão (injury and suspension permitting), and the depth of Roberto Martínez's squad make Portugal genuine dark horse contenders for the trophy.

Key Takeaways

• Portugal 2-1 Chile — World Cup warmup, Estádio Nacional do Jamor, June 6, 2026
• Gonçalo Guedes scored in the 59th minute; Bruno Fernandes scored in the 74th — his 29th Portugal goal
• Rafael Leão sent off for punching Chile's Iván Román on the stroke of halftime — both players shown straight red
• Cristiano Ronaldo subbed off at halftime as planned — set for record-tying sixth World Cup appearance
• Lucas Cepeda pulled one back for Chile in stoppage time
• Portugal face Nigeria on June 10 for their final warmup, then open the World Cup vs DR Congo on June 17 in Houston
• Portugal are in Group K with Congo DR, Uzbekistan and Colombia