How Portugal Has Played: What the Numbers Say

With the group stage of the 2026 World Cup concluded, Portugal's performances have been a mixed bag. After three matches, how does Roberto Martínez's squad stack up against the other 48 teams? Official FIFA data reveals some interesting insights into Portugal's campaign so far.

Having scored six goals (five against Uzbekistan), 12 teams have netted more than Portugal, with Germany, France, and the Netherlands leading the pack with 10 goals each. The goal tally isn't particularly impressive, especially considering the Seleção's low shot count.

Portugal has registered 37 shots to date, with only 12 hitting the target. Cristiano Ronaldo is by far the team's most prolific shooter, with 13 attempts to his name – though no one has surpassed Kylian Mbappé's and Kevin De Bruyne's 16 shots. Perhaps the team's conversion rate could be higher, especially since 22 of their shots originated from inside the opposition's penalty area.

Portugal's only goal from outside the box came from Nuno Mendes' direct free-kick against Uzbekistan.

Not only is Portugal lagging behind the top shooting teams (Belgium has taken 73 shots), but when they do shoot, the probability of scoring is relatively low. This is reflected in their 'expected goals' (xG) metric – a statistic that quantifies the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal, based on factors like shot location, type of shot, the pass received, and defensive pressure.

In this metric, Portugal has an xG of just 3.57. This means, based on the chances created, they were expected to score between three and four goals. However, having scored six, it indicates that the players have been highly clinical in converting their opportunities.

According to FIFA, Portugal's leading statistic in the 2026 World Cup is their pass completion rate: 92%, a figure matched only by Spain. The team also ranks fourth in total passes attempted (1899) in the tournament, trailing Spain (2191), Algeria (2070), and Argentina (1966).

The vast majority of these passes are ground passes, as Portugal isn't among the teams that deliver the most crosses. They've attempted 61 crosses so far, with 10 other national teams ahead of them. Unfortunately for the Seleção, only 25% of these crosses found a Portuguese player.

On the defensive end, Portugal has been one of the best teams at what matters most: keeping clean sheets. Only Yoane Wissa has managed to beat Diogo Costa, who made nine saves in the group stage. Spain and Mexico are the only teams yet to concede a goal.

The team has also forced fewer turnovers from opponents – 103, with only Norway and Qatar forcing fewer – but this can be attributed to Portugal's dominant possession against DR Congo and Uzbekistan.

Regarding discipline, Portugal's matches haven't been marred by excessive fouls (34 in favor, 29 against the team). Four players have received yellow cards: Bernardo Silva, Nélson Semedo, Tomás Araújo, and Renato Veiga.

These are the numbers Portugal carries into their Round of 16 clash against Croatia at the World Cup, scheduled for midnight on July 3rd.