Portugal 1-0 Ireland Player Ratings: Ruben Neves Rated 7.5/10 as Portugal Edge Past Ireland in Close Contest

What looked set to be a hard-earned point for the Republic of Ireland ended in heartbreak, as a last-gasp header from Rúben Neves handed Portugal a dramatic 1-0 victory in Lisbon. In a World Cup Qualification clash dominated by the hosts, Ireland delivered a defensive masterclass, with goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher producing a standout performance — including a penalty save to deny Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

For 90 minutes, the Ireland national football team repelled wave after wave of Portuguese pressure at the Estádio José Alvalade, showing immense discipline and resilience. But in stoppage time, just when it appeared the visitors had secured a famous result, Ruben Neves rose highest from a corner to break Irish hearts and seal a crucial win for Portugal national football team.

It was a cruel end to a heroic defensive effort — and a stark reminder of football’s fine margins. Here are Sportsdunia's Portugal vs Ireland Player Ratings:

Ireland National Football Team Player Ratings vs Portugal

Here are Ireland Player Ratings from Porugal vs Ireland match:

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 9.0: Absolutely heroic. The penalty save from Cristiano Ronaldo was the standout moment, a world-class stop that kept his team in the game. He made five saves in total, commanded his box with three good high claims, and looked unbeatable for 90 minutes. The late goal wasn't his fault at all. A truly magnificent performance that deserved a clean sheet. He was the reason this match was even a contest.

Defenders

Dara O'Shea - 5.0: A really tough night for the defender. He battled hard, making six clearances, but it will all be overshadowed by the penalty he conceded for a handball. That single moment was a massive turning point and put his team under immense pressure. From our perspective, it was a clumsy mistake that ultimately cost his team, despite their eventual reprieve from the spot.

Jake O'Brien - 7.5: What stood out to us was his composure on his debut. He was a rock at the back, winning seven of his eight duels and making an incredible nine clearances. He looked unfazed by the occasion and the quality of the opposition. A very promising performance and one of the few Irish players to come away with immense credit.

Nathan Collins - 6.5: Wore the captain's armband and led by example with his commitment. He made a crucial three blocked shots, putting his body on the line time and again. However, he lost possession a few too many times, which invited pressure. A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the skipper.

Midfielders

Séamus Coleman - 6.5: The veteran was solid and dependable as ever on the right. He made some important clearances and was positionally sound. He didn't offer a great deal going forward, but his defensive duties were the priority. A typically professional performance before being substituted late on.

Ryan Manning - 6.5: A busy evening on the left flank. He had a fantastic pass accuracy of 94% and won most of his duels. He was defensively responsible, making three clearances and two interceptions. The late yellow card was a blot on an otherwise disciplined display.

Josh Cullen - 6.0: It was always going to be a difficult battle in midfield, and so it proved. He worked tirelessly but struggled to get a foothold in the game against Portugal's technical wizards. He completed his passes well but couldn't dictate play. The late yellow for a cynical foul summed up his frustrating evening.

Jayson Molumby - 7.0: A bundle of energy in the middle of the park. He was all over the pitch, winning seven duels and making four tackles. He constantly broke up play and drew fouls to relieve pressure. His work rate was phenomenal, though his use of the ball could have been better. A very spirited display.

Forwards

Evan Ferguson - 5.5: A thankless task for the young striker. He was completely isolated and starved of service. He lost 15 of his 16 duels which shows just how difficult it was for him to hold the ball up against Portugal's defence. He never stopped working but had absolutely no impact on the game.

Chiedozie Ogbene - 6.0: His pace was a potential outlet, but he was caught offside three times which killed any momentum. He tried to make things happen, attempting three dribbles, but he often ran into dead ends. He worked hard defensively but offered little genuine threat.

Festy Ebosele - 5.5: A very chaotic performance. He showed flashes of his pace and power but was incredibly raw. He picked up an early yellow card and was a bit of a liability, committing two fouls. His evening was cut short by injury, a disappointing end to a frustrating outing.

Substitutes

Mikey Johnston - 6.0: Came on for the injured Ebosele but couldn't really get into the game.

Will Smallbone - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Troy Parrott - N/A: Brought on late with little service.

John Egan - N/A: Came on to see out the draw but couldn't prevent the late goal.

Manager

H. Hallgrímsson - 7.0: His game plan was nearly perfect. He set his team up to be incredibly difficult to beat, and for 90 minutes, it worked. The defensive organisation and team spirit were exceptional. Ultimately undone by a single moment, but he can be proud of how his side competed against one of the world's best.

Portugal National Football Player Ratings vs Ireland

Here are Portugal Player ratings from Portugal vs Ireland match:

Goalkeeper

Diogo Costa - 6.5: A spectator for almost the entire match. Ireland didn't manage a single shot on target, so he had literally no saves to make. His distribution was okay, but he was largely untested. The easiest clean sheet he will ever keep in his career.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 7.5: A commanding performance from the City defender. He was imperious in the air, winning four of his five aerial duels, and had a pass accuracy of 96%. He was never troubled defensively and even tried to force the issue with a couple of attempts on goal. A class act.

Diogo Dalot - 6.5: A steady performance at right-back before being substituted. He was tidy in possession and contributed a couple of key passes. However, he didn't provide the cutting edge that was needed to break down the low block. A decent, but not decisive, outing.

Gonçalo Inácio - 7.0: Only played the first half but was very impressive. He won eight of his eleven duels and was a real physical presence. He even forced a good save with a header from a corner. It was a surprise to see him taken off at half-time.

Nuno Mendes - 8.0: Portugal's most consistent attacking threat all night. He was a menace down the left flank, delivering a staggering eight crosses and creating four chances. He was also brilliant defensively, making 11 ball recoveries. A fantastic all-round performance from the full-back.

Midfielders

Bruno Fernandes - 7.0: A typically busy Bruno performance. He was involved in everything, creating three chances and taking four shots. However, he was also wasteful and looked frustrated, picking up a needless yellow card. He tried to force things too often but was still one of Portugal's more likely players to create something.

Bernardo Silva - 6.5: A surprisingly quiet game by his lofty standards. He was neat and tidy in possession but struggled to find the killer pass to unlock the Irish defence. He missed a big chance in the first half and picked up a late yellow. We expected more from him.

Rúben Neves - 8.5: The hero of the hour. Controlled the game from deep with an impressive 95% pass accuracy and was always looking to get forward, taking five shots. He popped up with a perfectly timed header in stoppage time to win the game. An authoritative midfield display capped off by the decisive goal. Man of the Match.

Vitinha - 7.0: Looked very sharp during his time on the pitch. His passing was crisp (94% accuracy) and he kept the tempo high. He wasn't afraid to shoot from distance and looked like one of the few players capable of unlocking the door. It was a shame to see him substituted.

Forwards

Cristiano Ronaldo - 6.0: A night of immense frustration for the captain. He will be remembered for the missed penalty, a moment that should have won the game far earlier. He also hit the woodwork and missed a host of other chances. Despite this, his movement was still a constant problem, but his finishing was uncharacteristically poor.

Pedro Neto - 6.5: Looked very lively in the first hour. He created four chances and was a willing runner, but his final ball was inconsistent. He put in ten crosses but only found a teammate with two. A performance full of endeavor but lacking in quality at the crucial moment.

Substitutes

Renato Veiga - 6.5: Slotted in well at the back for the second half.

Nélson Semedo - 6.0: Didn't offer much more than Dalot had.

Trincão - 6.5: Looked bright and had a decent chance late on.

Gonçalo Ramos - 6.0: Missed a good headed opportunity shortly after coming on.

Manager

R. Martínez Montoliú - 7.0: His side completely dominated the ball but showed a worrying lack of creativity and cutting edge for 90 minutes. He will be concerned by how much they struggled to break down a well-drilled defence. He gets the points for the win, but the performance was far from convincing. The late goal saved his blushes.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Ruben Neves