Goal efficiency
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Villarreal · Friendlies · Defender · #13 · Portugal · 22 yrs
Renato Veiga plays as a defender for Villarreal. Renato Veiga is a Portuguese international, 22 years old, defender, currently at Villarreal. Renato Veiga wears shirt number 13 for Villarreal. Renato Veiga was born in Lisboa, Portugal on 2003-07-29. Renato Veiga is 190 cm tall and weighs 88 kg. Renato Veiga's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across UEFA Nations League, DFB Pokal, UEFA Europa Conference League, Schweizer Cup, and other leagues. Renato Veiga's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore Renato Veiga season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2026 |  Portugal POR |
| 2025 |  Portugal U21 POR |
| 2025 |  Villarreal VIL |
| 2024 |  Chelsea CHE |
| 2024 | Portugal POR |
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-22 | Transfer | Chelsea CHE | Villarreal VIL |
| 2025-07-01 |  Juventus JUV | Chelsea CHE | |
| 2025-06-01 | Back from Loan | — | Chelsea CHE |
Season intelligence
Profile as Defender: balanced output without a single dominant trait. Archetype: Balanced contributor. Season rating 7.0.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
Tackles, duels, and off-ball defensive contribution.
Shot-stopping, goals conceded, and penalty saves.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
Spain and Portugal face off in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. As two of the tournament's top title contenders, the match is expected to be highly competitive. Because of this, fans will be closely watching the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal heading into the game. Spain and Portugal face each other in one of the most competitive clashes of the 2026 World Cup. On one hand, Luis de la Fuente’s team arrive established as one of the most attack-minded sides. On the other hand, Roberto Martínez’s team have proven to be highly efficient in front of goal, making it clear that this will be a closely contested match. As a result, fans are closely monitoring the status of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal, as both could prove decisive. Cristiano Ronaldo will start for Portugal, as he has no injuries or suspensions. After scoring against Croatia, the veteran striker will be looking to extend his goalscoring streak amid the constant criticism. In addition, head coach Roberto Martínez has decided to keep him as an undisputed starter, hoping he can make the difference in front of goal against a top contender as Spain. Lamine Yamal will also start for Spain, as he has no injuries or suspensions. As one of the team’s best players, head coach Luis de la Fuente considers him a cornerstone of the squad. Although he has not stood out in front of goal, he remains one of the team’s most creative players, creating space and distributing the ball. With this being the knockout stage, he is expected to be especially motivated. While Luis de la Fuente’s team arrive imposing their high press and dominating possession, Roberto Martínez’s team have disappointed many, as they rely on counterattacks and have struggled in recent matches. However, both Spain and Portugal could look to dominate the ball, meaning individual quality will be crucial to create space and find the back of the net in the Round of 16. Mikel Oyarzabal #21 of Spain celebrates with teammate Lamine Yamal #19 after scoring. Portugal confirmed lineup vs Spain Portugal have remained highly competitive throughout the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Roberto Martínez has yet to get the best out of his roster, but the individual quality of his star players has made the difference. Because of this, he may decide not to make huge changes to his starting lineup, sticking with his current approach while looking to boost Cristiano Ronaldo’s goalscoring output, as he remains the team’s biggest star. Considering this, Portugal will play as follows: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha; Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix; Cristiano Ronaldo. Spain confirmed lineup vs Portugal Unlike in previous matches, Spain have managed to recover their entire roster, with Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino both reportedly available. Despite this, head coach Luis de la Fuente has decided not to make any changes to his lineup, keeping Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal as the focal points of his team. However, Pedri and Rodri will be key to pressing Portugal and pinning them back inside their own penalty area. With this in mind, Spain will lineup as follows: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.
Stepping up to the penalty spot, Ronaldo fired a strike that echoed across history, officially drawing level with Messi's World Cup legacy. The eternal duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has birthed yet another immortal chapter. In the wake of Portugal‘s breathless 2-1 conquest over Croatia in the Round of 32, a seismic milestone was reached. Stepping up to the penalty spot, Ronaldo fired a strike that echoed across history, officially drawing level with Messi’s World Cup legacy. The knockout clash in Toronto delivered everything expected from two experienced European sides. Croatia took the lead through Ivan Perisic, Portugal responded through Ronaldo from the penalty spot, and Goncalo Ramos headed home a dramatic stoppage-time winner to send Portugal into the Round of 16. Portugal endured a frustrating opening period despite creating promising situations around Croatia’s penalty area. Ronaldo came close on a couple of occasions, while Joao Cancelo repeatedly looked dangerous from the left, but neither side managed to break the deadlock before halftime. The match exploded into life after the interval when the Checkered Ones grew in confidence. Mateo Kovacic tested Diogo Costa before Perisic fired home to hand Croatia a valuable advantage and put the Selecao das Quinas under immediate pressure. Zlatko Dalic’s players nearly doubled their lead moments later as Costa produced another pair of important saves. Portugal, however, gradually regained control and found the breakthrough after Renato Veiga was brought down inside the penalty area. Ronaldo equals Messi with latest World Cup penalty achievement With Portugal needing a response, Cristiano Ronaldo calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 68th minute, keeping his composure under enormous pressure. Although he had earlier seen a well-taken finish ruled out for offside, the captain made no mistake from 12 yards. That successful penalty also saw Ronaldo equal Lionel Messi in one remarkable piece of World Cup history. Both superstars have now scored four penalties in FIFA World Cup matches (excluding penalty shootouts), placing them level among the tournament’s greatest penalty takers. 🚨BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo is now level with Lionel Messi for the most penalty goals at the FIFA World Cup, despite playing fewer games.😳 pic.twitter.com/sJIz22W9QI— Kalshi Sports (@KalshiSports) July 3, 2026 Only Harry Kane, with five successful World Cup penalties, currently sits ahead of both soccer icons. With the knockout stages still underway, that record could yet change before the tournament concludes. Portugal completes the comeback as Ronaldo adds more milestones Roberto Marinez and his players continued pushing after the equalizer and eventually found their reward deep into stoppage time. Substitute Goncalo Ramos timed his run perfectly to head home Rafael Leao’s cross and complete a memorable comeback victory. Croatia believed it had rescued extra time moments later when Josko Gvardiol found the net. However, following a lengthy VAR review, Mario Pasalic was judged to have been offside during the build-up, leaving Croatia heartbroken as Portugal celebrated qualification. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal celebrates after scoring against Croatia. The penalty carried even greater significance beyond helping Portugal advance. It was Ronaldo’s first-ever goal in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, ending a statistic that had followed him throughout an extraordinary international career. Before the game, the Portuguese captain had gone through eight previous World Cup knockout appearances without finding the net. The strike also made Ronaldo the oldest player ever to score in a World Cup knockout-stage match, adding yet another record to an already remarkable résumé.
Cristiano Ronaldo wore the No. 21 jersey during the post-match celebration in tribute to Diogo Jota. Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to an impressive late comeback, defeating Croatia 2-1 to secure their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Beyond being a crucial match to keep Portugal‘s hopes alive of winning their first title, the game carried extra significance, coming just a day before the one-year anniversary of Diogo Jota’s passing. That’s why, after securing the win in stoppage time, Portugal’s players made their way to their fans to celebrate the victory, with Ronaldo putting on the No. 21 jersey in honor of his former national team teammate. An emotional moment as Cristiano Ronaldo salutes the Portugal fans while wearing Diogo Jota's jersey 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/7e6Km1pQyE— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026 Ronaldo finally breaks his knockout-stage drought The comeback was set up by a milestone Ronaldo had been chasing for nearly two decades. With Portugal trailing 1-0 in the second half, a VAR review overturned a missed foul, awarding a penalty after Marin Pongracic brought down Renato Veiga inside the box. Ronaldo stepped up and converted, leveling the score at 1-1 and scoring his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match, after going scoreless across his first seven elimination games. SIIUUU! CRISTIANO RONALDO SCORES HIS FIRST CAREER KNOCKOUT STAGE GOAL AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP 🇵🇹The legendary CR7 brings Portugal level from the spot! pic.twitter.com/BJ80AM0zhg— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026 The goal also made him the oldest player to ever score in a World Cup knockout-stage match, at 41 years and 147 days old, and moved him into the top 10 goal-scorers in World Cup history with 11 tallies. Portugal’s next rival Portugal will face Spain in the Round of 16, with the match set for Monday, July 6, at Dallas Stadium. Lamine Yamal’s team reached the round with a comfortable 3-0 win over Austria, powered by a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal.
In a moment of need in the Round of 32 clash, Cristiano Ronaldo gave some oxygen to Portugal against Croatia in the 2026 World Cup by converting an equalizing goal via penalty. Portugal found themselves in serious danger against Croatia in the Round of 32, teetering on the edge of elimination from the 2026 World Cup. In a moment of crisis, Cristiano Ronaldo gave the Selecao a lifeline, stepping up to convert an equalizing penalty. While dominating possession, Portugal struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Croatia grew into the game in the second 45 minutes, pushing forward against a disorganized Portuguese backline, and in the 53rd minute Josip Stanisic delivered a cross that Ivan Perisic converted to put Croatia ahead. In the 65th minute, a corner kick led to Nikola Vlasic pulling down Renato Veiga from behind as he prepared to meet the ball with a header. The foul went unpunished initially, but referee Espen Eskas was called to the monitor by VAR and ultimately awarded the spot kick to Portugal. With the penalty given, Ronaldo picked up the ball, kissed it, and took responsibility for the crucial moment. He kept his composure, sending Dominik Livakovic the wrong way and slotting the ball in the middle of the goal to level the match at 1-1. SIIUUU! CRISTIANO RONALDO SCORES HIS FIRST CAREER KNOCKOUT STAGE GOAL AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP 🇵🇹The legendary CR7 brings Portugal level from the spot! pic.twitter.com/BJ80AM0zhg— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026 Cristiano Ronaldo’s first World Cup knockout stage goal For all his records and achievements as soccer’s all-time leading scorer, Ronaldo had never found the net in a World Cup knockout game, until now. The goal against Croatia is the first time the Portuguese icon has scored in the win-or-go-home stage of the sport’s most prestigious competition. Across his career, Ronaldo appeared in 25 World Cup matches prior to this tournament, eight of which came in the knockout rounds, most notably during Portugal’s run to the semifinals in 2006. All 10 of his previous goals in the competition had come in the group stage, but in his 26th World Cup appearance, he finally broke that drought, scoring his 11th goal on the biggest stage of all.
The confirmed lineups of the 2026 World Cup Group K match Colombia vs Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo expected to play. With one match left to play in 2026 World Cup Group K, there is still plenty to be decided as Colombia and Portugal battle for first place. The lineups have been confirmed with Cristiano Ronaldo ready to start. This promises to be a tense match even though both teams have already qualified for the next round. Colombia lead the group with six points, meaning a draw would be enough to secure first place. Portugal, meanwhile, must win after dropping points in their draw with DR Congo. Colombia sit at the top of the standings after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 and edging DR Congo 1-0. Portugal are second with four points following their 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. DR Congo are third with one point, while Uzbekistan are bottom without a point. Colombia vs Portugal lineups For this match, Néstor Lorenzo opted for the following lineup for Colombia: Camilo Vargas, Santiago Arias, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí, Deiver Machado, Gustavo Puerta, Jefferson Lerma, Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez, Jhon Córdoba and Luis Díaz. Ronaldo scored two goals in two matches (Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) Roberto Martínez picked this lineup for Portugal: Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha, Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix and Cristiano Ronaldo. Their next match The winner of Group K will play a third-placed team on July 3, while the runner-up will face England, Ghana or Croatia, whoever finishes second in Group L, on July 2.
Portugal and Uzbekistan face each other in their second Group K match. Needing a victory to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive, head coach Roberto Martínez could need the goal-scoring firepower of Cristiano Ronaldo. As a result, fans are closely monitoring his status ahead of the match. After their disappointing draw against DR Congo, Portugal have called into question their top contender status for the 2026 World Cup. However, they have the chance to make a statement, as they face Uzbekistan in their second Group K match. To that end, head coach Roberto Martínez would implement a strong attacking setup, aiming to get Cristiano Ronaldo into a scoring rhythm. As a result, fans are closely monitoring his status ahead of the match. Cristiano Ronaldo will start for Portugal, as he has no apparent injuries or suspensions. While he did not manage to score on his debut, he remains a cornerstone for Roberto Martínez. In addition, he comes off an impressive season with Al Nassr, which he will aim to translate into his national team performances. As one of the greatest goal scorers in history, he arrives with the clear objective of scoring his first goal of the 2026 World Cup. Alongside Cristiano, Roberto Martinez will bet again on Pedro Neto, but also including Joao Felix. In the creative side, Bruno Fernandes will also start, looking to break again the strong defense setup. Unlike the last game, Ruben Dias will start alongside Renato Veiga. Controlling the pace of the game, Vitinha and Joao Neves will start, looking to deliver a huge impact. Uzbekistan will maintain their defensive approach, implementing a strong double defensive line. With this setup, head coach Fabio Cannavaro would aim to complicate Cristiano Ronaldo’s attacking output. In addition, they may rely on efficient counterattacks, taking advantage of the opponent’s high pressing. However, the key challenge will be the midfield, as Portugal excel in that area and neutralizing it would be crucial to force either a draw or a victory. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match. Portugal confirmed lineup vs Uzbekistan Portugal arrive as clear favorite to defeat Uzbekistan, aiming to impose their attacking firepower. For this, head coach Roberto Martínez would maintain his reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo and Pedro Neto. However, he will opt for Joao Felix on the left wing, seeking to stretch the opposition’s defensive setup through the flanks. In addition, Rúben Dias will return to the defense after his physical issues. With this in mind, Portugal will lineup as follows: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves; Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix; Cristiano Ronaldo. Uzbekistan confirmed lineup vs Portugal Following their latest defeat, Uzbekistan face Portugal needing a victory or a draw to reach the knockout stages. To secure it, head coach Fabio Cannavaro may again repeat the five-man defensive line, looking to stop Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring prowess. Moreover, they may still aim for offensive impact with two wing-backs, trying to find Eldor Shomurodov in the striker position. Considering this, Uzbekistan will play as follows: Abduvohid Nematov; Bekhruz Karimov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rustam Ashurmatov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Sherzod Nasrullaev; Odiljon Xamrobekov, Azizjon Ganiev, Otabek Shukurov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev; Eldor Shomurodov.
Coming off their triumph as 2025 UEFA Nations League champions, Portugal arrive at the 2026 World Cup as clear favourites. They face DR Congo today in their opening Group K match. However, head coach Roberto Martínez will be without Rúben Dias. Portugal arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of the strongest national teams in the world, after their triumph at the 2025 UEFA Nations League. As such, they enter the tournament as top contenders. In their opening match, they face DR Congo in the first game of Group K. Despite their status as favorites, they will be without Rúben Dias in central defense, a significant setback that weakens their back line considerably. Rúben Dias will not be available for Portugal’s debut against DR Congo, as he is still dealing with physical discomfort following the friendly against Nigeria. “Rúben is not at 100 per cent; there is no point in taking risks. He is recovering and will be available later,” head coach Roberto Martínez reported in the press conference. With this in mind, he could return to the starting lineup in the next match against Uzbekistan. Instead of Rúben, Roberto Martínez could opt for Tomás Araújo as the ideal partner for Gonçalo Inácio. Both players are highly promising, and Portugal may not face major issues in covering for Dias as both have huge footing skills. In addition, Renato Veiga and Rúben Neves could also play a role from bench if needed. In the absence of leadership in defense, the presence of João Cancelo will be key in helping organize the team. As a top contender, Portugal may not face major defensive issues against DR Congo, as their opponents are not typically strong in attack. For this reason, João Neves and Vitinha will once again be key to controlling the tempo of the game, helping to prevent counterattacks from their rivals. In addition, the dribbling ability of Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceição could be crucial in breaking through the opposition defensive line. Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Pedro Neto’s goal for Portugal vs Nigeria Portugal’s defense key to unlocking offense vs DR Congo Since his arrival, Portugal‘s Roberto Martínez has implemented a fairly attacking style based on high pressing and collective play. Against DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener, they could struggle to break down their opponent’s defensive structure. For this reason, the defensive line could be key in enabling their attacking play and securing a victory to take control of Group K. By applying a high press, they would aim to pin DR Congo back in their own half. In this context, the defensive line becomes a key factor, as they would take on an important role in ball progression and build-up play. In addition, they would be responsible for breaking up the opposition’s progression and delivering line-breaking passes to allow Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates to see more of the ball. Unlike other national teams, Portugal make their defenders a central axis in the construction of play. Pushing into advanced areas and distributing possession, they are able to find gaps in the opposition’s defensive structure. Moreover, they become key partners for João Neves and Vitinha, enabling a solid collective structure that consistently looks for through balls or passes into space, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to finish first time.
Portugal have never won the World Cup, but defender Renato Veiga believes his nation have the chance to end that wait this time around. The post Portugal ‘contenders, not favourites’ for World Cup glory, says Veiga appeared first on SoccerNews.
Today's friendly against Chile at Estadio do Jamor in Oeiras may not carry competitive stakes, but it offers an important glimpse into how Roberto Martinez’s side is shaping up before heading to North America. With the 2026 World Cup just five days away, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are entering the final phase of their preparations. Today’s friendly against Chile at Estadio do Jamor in Oeiras may not carry competitive stakes, but it offers an important glimpse into how Roberto Martinez’s side is shaping up before heading to North America. Portugal has already produced encouraging performances in recent warm-up matches and remains unbeaten in its two World Cup preparation games. As anticipation builds around the tournament, attention has naturally turned toward the squad selection, tactical setup, and one major question surrounding Ronaldo ahead of the clash. The Selecao das Quinas enters the match as one of the more highly regarded European contenders for the World Cup. The national team qualified comfortably and has suffered only one defeat across its last 13 matches. Recent results in March and April have highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement. A goalless draw against Mexico raised some concerns regarding attacking efficiency, but a convincing 2-0 victory over the United States restored confidence heading into the final stretch before the tournament. The national team will open its World Cup campaign against DR Congo on June 17 in Houston, before facing Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K. Martinez will use the remaining friendlies to ensure his squad arrives fully prepared for what could be one of Portugal’s strongest opportunities to compete for a first-ever World Cup title. Chile arrives seeking answers after difficult cycle Chile’s situation looks very different. The national team finished bottom of the CONMEBOL qualifying table and failed to reach the World Cup for a third consecutive cycle. Once considered one of South America’s strongest sides after winning the Copa America in 2015 and 2016, Chile is now undergoing a rebuilding process. The focus has shifted toward developing a new generation of players and preparing for future competitions, including the 2027 Copa America. Recent performances have been inconsistent. A 4-2 victory over Cape Verde showed attacking promise, but a heavy 4-1 defeat to New Zealand exposed defensive weaknesses that Portugal will undoubtedly look to exploit. Will Cristiano Ronaldo play? According to the official lineups from Portugal’s camp, Cristiano Ronaldo will start for Portugal. At 41 years old, the Al-Nassr star is preparing for what would be his sixth World Cup appearance. Despite his age, the nation continues to build much of its attacking structure around its all-time leading scorer. Martinez has fielded a lineup close to full strength, although several players connected to Paris Saint-Germain may not be available after their club commitments ended only recently. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026. As a result, Ronaldo’s presence gives this friendly additional significance. The veteran forward recently celebrated another major achievement with Al-Nassr, and now has one remaining objective that has defined much of the latter stage of his career. Portugal vs Chile: Confirmed lineups Portugal confirmed XI (4-2-3-1): Jose Sa; Nelson Semedo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Joao Cancelo; Samu Costa, Bernardo Silva; Francisco Conceicao, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao; Cristiano Ronaldo. Chile confirmed XI (4-2-3-1): Vigouroux; Arce, Maripan, Faundez, Suazo; Pizarro, Loyola; Gutierrez, Osorio, Roman; Tapia.
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