Pedro Neto says his childhood dream is finally real after featuring for Portugal in the opening two World Cup fixtures—assisting against DR Congo, starting in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, and following the impact of heroes like Cristiano Ronaldo at the tournamen
Pedro Neto can point to the exact moment the dream became something he could almost touch. He remembers watching the 2010 World Cup in the Portuguese city of Braga with a friend. sitting with the same hope many kids carry—watching the men he admired. and believing that one day he might stand where they stood.
This summer, that hope has turned into a role in Portugal’s World Cup campaign. Neto has featured in Portugal’s opening two World Cup fixtures. registering an assist in their opener against DR Congo and starting in a convincing 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. In those matches, he has also shared the pitch with one of his idols: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo—now 41 years old—has continued to make his mark on the biggest stage, adding two goals against Uzbekistan in the latest outing. For Neto, that kind of stage presence is more than inspiration. It is proof that the path he watched from the stands can be walked.
“It motivated a lot,” Neto said. “After that, you start to feel like you want to be there one day. Of course, you dream and say ‘I’m capable of it’. Hopefully, [this summer], I will do that and help the team.”
When he talks about the players who lit up the tournaments he was growing up on, Neto doesn’t pick just one. Cristiano Ronaldo is the obvious anchor—“Cristiano Ronaldo, of course”—but he also names Lionel Messi, Neymar in 2018, and Eden Hazard with Belgium at that World Cup.
The story of those heroes hasn’t just been something Neto absorbed as a fan. It has played out around him now, in the same competition where his own turn has arrived.
Portugal’s next test comes quickly. They face already-qualified Colombia in their final group game in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time. A win would send Portugal through as Group K winners.
Between the moment Neto remembers in Braga and the matches he is now part of, the through-line is simple: the dream has moved from television screens to the pitch—and now the question is whether the momentum can carry them one more step forward.
Pedro Neto Portugal FIFA World Cup Cristiano Ronaldo DR Congo Uzbekistan Group K Colombia
Portugal always gets hype for these tournaments, hope he doesn’t flop in the next game.
So he just watched Ronaldo in Braga and now he’s there? Honestly that sounds like a movie. Also why is Colombia “already-qualified” like that, must be nice.
Wait i thought Neto was from Brazil or something? Maybe I’m mixing him up with another Neto. But either way 5-0 vs Uzbekistan is wild. If Ronaldo is scoring at 41 then what chance do any defenders even have lol.
I don’t get the whole “dream came true” thing like ok congrats but can they actually win vs Colombia? Like the article says the next test comes quickly, and I’m like… don’t they always say that right before they choke? Also Portugal with Ronaldo and now Neto sounds stacked but they still might get knocked out if the chemistry’s off.