Portugal's midfield was considered a strong point at the World Cup 2026. It featured Fernandes, who broke the Premier League assist record in the 2025-2026 season and won both the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season awards. Alongside him were Joao Neves and Vitinha, two key players who helped PSG win two consecutive Champions League titles.

However, the trio did not perform as explosively as expected. Fernandes provided only one assist, setting up Cristiano Ronaldo in the victory against Uzbekistan. Neves scored one goal in the draw against DR Congo, while Vitinha did not contribute to any goals.

Fernandes (in red) shoots while Marc Cucurella attempts to block during Portugal's World Cup 2026 round of 16 match against Spain in Texas, USA, on 6/7. *Photo: AP*

In the round of 16 match against Spain on 6/7, Fernandes, Vitinha, and Neves also made little impact, leaving Portugal somewhat outplayed. Roberto Martinez's squad managed only 45% possession and 10 shots with two on target, compared to Spain's 15 shots and six on target. This performance led to criticism regarding the midfield's effectiveness.

Fernandes immediately rejected the notion that Portugal's midfield failed to meet expectations at the World Cup 2026. The midfielder stressed that all personnel selections were up to coach Roberto Martinez. "We did what the coach asked and worked in the way the team needed. We did everything to ensure the team operated at its best", Fernandes stated. He added, "When there's Bruno, Vitinha, and Joao Neves, people want that trio to play together. Then they want Bernardo Silva. When Bernardo starts, there are different opinions, and the same applies to Ruben Neves. The coach is the one who decides. We just do our job, and I feel calm about that".

Despite this, Fernandes conceded that Portugal could not generate enough pressure to prevent Spain from winning. According to the 31-year-old midfielder, Portugal allowed their opponents too much time on the ball, enabling Spain to maintain their familiar playing style. However, the Manchester United captain attributed the defeat more to the quality of the opposition than to his team's underperformance. "This result comes from the quality of Spain", he explained. "In the first half, we played well and controlled their game. We handled the ball intelligently. But in the second half, we should have held onto possession more to make Spain run and tire them out. Spain played better in the second half and eventually scored".

Reflecting on Portugal's journey, Fernandes emphasized that the team needed to respect Spain rather than solely focus on the defeat, recalling the UEFA Nations League 2025 final. "We faced Spain, one of the title contenders", he remarked. "Respect must be given to the opponent. When they play other teams, everyone rates them as very strong, but when they face us, it seems Portugal is always expected to overcome everything. In the Nations League, we once played better than Spain. Today they were the team to score, and before that, we were the luckier ones. That's football, and we must keep moving forward".

Spain's solitary goal ultimately ended Portugal's World Cup campaign. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa was a rare bright spot, making five saves and keeping Portugal's clean sheet during regular time. However, in injury time, Mikel Merino scored past him in a one-on-one situation, leading to Portugal's early exit from the tournament.

Costa felt his individual performance became meaningless after the team's elimination, stating he would trade it for a Portugal victory. According to the 26-year-old goalkeeper, the team created enough opportunities but lacked a bit of luck. He recalled Nuno Mendes's shot that deflected off a Spanish defender and hit the post, and Bernardo Silva's header over the bar in the 6th minute of injury time.

Meanwhile, Ruben Dias believed Portugal lacked luck in decisive moments and needed to quickly look to the future. "Every Euro or World Cup is an opportunity. Disappointment exists and is always very difficult. But we must keep our heads up and look forward. We still have much to do", the Manchester City defender commented.