Bruno Fernandes said he was "sad, frustrated, and disappointed" at Portugal's early exit from the World Cup, saying the team fell below his high expectations.
Portugal were dumped out of the World Cup by Spain in the last 16, with Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner sending the European champions into the quarter-finals.
The Selecao have now lost/been eliminated from six of their last eight World Cup knockout-stage matches, having lost just one of their first five in the competition.
It was a result that was also followed by Roberto Martinez stepping down from his head coach position, with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirming his departure on Wednesday.
Portugal finished second to Colombia in Group K after taking five points from their three games, before defeating Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic last-32 tie.
Martinez's side were tipped to challenge for a first World Cup crown in North America, with this also being Cristiano Ronaldo's last shot at glory after he announced he would not play in FIFA's flagship tournament again, and Fernandes believes this was an opportunity missed.
"Sad, frustrated, and disappointed," Fernandes wrote in a social media post.
"This group of players raised my expectations high, not only because of their quality, but also because of the incredible team we've built over the years.
"Thank you to all the players, the coaching staff, and everyone who supported us and helped us every day during the World Cup.
"To all the Portuguese people, a big thank you for your support and belief."
Fernandes himself struggled to make an impact at the World Cup, having broken the Premier League assist record for a single season in 2025-26 (21) and being named the division's Player of the Year.
However, he managed just one assist at the tournament. Portugal have now failed to go beyond the quarter-finals of the World Cup since finishing third back in 1996.
It has been reported that Jorge Jesus, who coached Ronaldo to his first Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr last season, is in line to replace Martinez.
sencory
0
kachara selfish players removed from club and national team. Number 1 selfish
Mayabdlptu
1
Ronaldo to be very sincere, he plays for person glory and not for the team.He has been doing this since he played for Real Madrid.The urge to score many goals has been the bane of Portugal early exit by Ronaldo.You can't deny the fact that team work would have taken Portugal to the quarter final.
vecabcky
1
Bruno,Portugal eliminated him self,because the team have a young number #9 didn’t want to play him and playing old CR7 and thinking they could win it,no no no no no Bruno and no one don’t want to say anything about it.is the reason why the coach quit.
Wambcilnsy
1
If a team has a successful, ruthless, and mean player like you, it won't be possible for that team to go very far.
Osabutey9
1
Bruno is overrated honestly
miminsingsit
0
and so you are the main problem. you deserved early exit,
miminsingsit
0
i dont support you fernandes because of the way how you are selfish jealouse you are such and idiot stupid player.
Adil20176
1
Stop doing backward passes noob
cocist
1
you still not ready to see Portugal winning... with Ronaldo, Portugal winning nothing
😂 Let me tell you something because you don’t understand football. Portugal before Cristiano Ronaldo one attendance in World Cup. With CR7 Portugal 6 consecutive attendance in World Cup. Portugal before Cristiano Ronaldo 0 titles in Euro. With CR7 Portugal won Euro and Nations League. By the way, I am an Italian fan from Sweden who supports Milan only.
diceloptu
1
F00lish player, you didn't want pass the ball to CR7 to score so stop your n0nsense
Feecdimnpt
1
master mind Bruno.. the problem is christiano he can't do it anymore. how can a team play for a man .. Argentina isn't playing for Messi. we all see Messi is playing for Argentina
MoltenBoss
1
You should be blame partly for Portugal dumped out of this world cup, the coach is another one for putting you in first eleven.
wukblmn
0
BAASTEED
pokeklmpry
0
Jorge Jesus is coming now and CR 7 with his coach will manage the team again and kick these useless players out.
you still not ready to see Portugal winning... with Ronaldo, Portugal winning nothing
KING_BIGGIE
0
🐍
cazbimory
1
He Fernandez hate Ronaldo more than the man that is keeping his girlfriend company while he’s playing for utd
hiwbciknrs
0
They could have challenged for the title but because of pragmatism and stubborness from their coach, they got booted out. Every player has his time and football is beyond popular names but routine performance. His bold decision to bench bernado after their first match was good but he needed more big name changes. He was not brave enough to do that and he has wasted his second golden generation of players that could have won the world cup just as he wasted the Golden generation of Belgium with Hazard and Co.
Mijidinho10
1
You guyz were the cause of the failure because you playing the match like a training
fasacekmry
1
He will even say because of Argentina, Portugal got defeated.
cocist
0
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
😉
cocist
1
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Jorge Jesus is coming now and CR 7 with his coach will manage the team again and kick these useless players out.
fambclruyz
1
You are the problem Bruno, had u were bot there portugal would have gone beyond Round 16
yesbdnorst
0
Bunch of haters can never achieve anything. Instead of them to support their blessed and graceful child to take them to glory like Argentina does, they are busy hating. Your glory days have passed you; you can never win the World Cup! Mark my words: "law of kama and CR hate nemesis will always be hunting your team down, however you try".
well said brother or sister I'm a Messi fan but 100% agree with you. most of the Portugal players boycotting Ronaldo
nopaciptuz
1
overridden your expectations ..... would have been out in group stage itself
yeeceprtz
1
You can field a player who was benched 4 years ago 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
yeeceprtz
0
Silva, Leao and Fernandes are the problem of the team. They don’t like Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence they feel jealous and hate. They don’t pass him they don’t want him to score because they want to take the light from him. His presence means no one talks about them. They should be punished.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
yeeceprtz
0
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
vewackltuy
1
stupid CR7
ayinlamudathir
1
You have missed your glorious opportunity. Who told you other better nations than your crab team wouldn't come even better than this edition in the next outing?
neobemost
6
Foolish and stupid man 👨
ayinlamudathir
6
Bunch of haters can never achieve anything. Instead of them to support their blessed and graceful child to take them to glory like Argentina does, they are busy hating. Your glory days have passed you; you can never win the World Cup! Mark my words: "law of kama and CR hate nemesis will always be hunting your team down, however you try".
ayinlamudathir
0
you did everything along with Vitinha and Joao naves, next world cup will be better without someone
De play. Instead of them to support their blessed and graceful child to take them to glory like Argentina does, they are busy hating. Their glory days has passed them; they can never win the World Cup! Mark my word "law of kama and CR hate nemesis will always be hunting them down, however they try".
ridbcdikmt
2
stupid man
Laybkmpsyz
0
fernandes🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮
Edooo87
2
that more than what expected
cocist
0
you did everything along with Vitinha and Joao naves, next world cup will be better without someone
You are stupid like him. Fernandes, Leao and Silva full of hate and jealousy and that ruined the team. But you are also silly too and stupid also ❤️
Biodilmnyz
1
Your team did not play like a team 🤩
cocist
3
Silva, Leao and Fernandes are the problem of the team. They don’t like Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence they feel jealous and hate. They don’t pass him they don’t want him to score because they want to take the light from him. His presence means no one talks about them. They should be punished.
anita-raki
1
He is not Portuguese. #Shame!
jinaekloy
1
He is the one who cost for Portugal...
Depekstyz
2
you did everything along with Vitinha and Joao naves, next world cup will be better without someone
Farhad2026
1
Shut up man