Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (7) and Portuguese Bruno Fernandes (8) (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Bruno Fernandes, the Portugal national team midfielder, admitted that he finds it difficult to accept his team’s early exit from the FIFA World Cup after its 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16. Portugal entered the tournament as one of the favourites, especially after winning the 2025 UEFA Nations League and having a strong team led by Cristiano Ronaldo and many of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League-winning stars.
Fernandes is also at the top of his game after a fantastic season with Manchester United, where he set the all-time Premier League record for the most assists in a single season.On his Instagram account, Fernandes expressed his feelings after Portugal’s exit.“Sad, frustrated and disappointed,” Fernandez, 31, wrote.He said that the quality of Portugal’s squad gave him high hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.“This group of players has set my expectations high, not only because of their quality, but also because of the amazing team we have built over the years,” Fernandes wrote.Portugal achieved only two victories in five matches, defeating Uzbekistan and Croatia before losing to Spain.Despite the disappointment, Fernandez thanked everyone who supported the team throughout the tournament.He wrote: “Thank you to all the players, the coaching staff and everyone who supported and helped us every day during the World Cup.”“To all the Portuguese people, thank you very much for your support and faith.”