Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has praised Paulinho after the striker ended a five-year exile from international football in the Selecao’s 0-0 draw in Mexico on Saturday in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

With Portugal record scorer Ronaldo and fellow forwards Rafael Leao and Rodrigo Mora out through injury, Paulinho was called up last week and replaced Goncalo Ramos after 64 minutes against the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosts.

“It was very good to work with him and he showed that he’s in the best moment of his career,” Martinez said of the 33-year-old (via Abola), who was the top scorer and won the best forward award in Mexico last season.

“He’s a very intelligent player who creates space with his final movements. It’s very good for us to have a player like him.”

A former Portuguese champion with Sporting, Paulinho won the Mexican title with Toluca last season but had not been called up since making three appearances under Fernando Santos, including two goals against Andorra on his debut.

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Playing at 2,200 metres above sea level at the Estadio Azteca, which has a capacity of more than 83,000 and has reopened after renovations for the World Cup, Portugal went closest to scoring during an uneventful contest when Goncalo Ramos shot against a post early on.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes – replacing Ronaldo as captain – set Ramos up for the opportunity, and Mexico had one of their own when substitute Armando Gonzalez sent a late header wide in a game that left Martinez and counterpart Javier Aguirre satisfied.

“What surprised me wasn’t what he can bring to the national team but how quickly he understood the group,” Martinez said of Paulinho.

“He integrated very well into the dressing room. He’s a player who would fit in well with any national team in the world.

“The problem is that here, he has in front of him perhaps the best player of all time for Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo – and a player like Goncalo Ramos, who won the Champions League [with Paris Saint-Germain last season].”

The game was also notable for Pedro Neto grabbing one of Paulinho’s Toluca teammates, Jesus Gallardo, around the head when the Chelsea winger and the Mexico defender confronted each other in the 53rd minute. Both were booked.

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Paulinho said some players had “no idea how difficult it is” to play at significant altitude. “I’m used to it, but for my teammates it was important to understand the difference,” he added.

“There were no goals but it was a good game in which I learned a lot of things. Bruno – even if he makes a mistake once or twice – never plays badly; he’s one of those different players. The ball flies differently with him.

“Mexico didn’t surprise me – I know them, they have a lot of quality and very good players. I’m very happy that they’re doing well and that they’re on the right track. If Portugal don’t win, may Mexico win.”

Portugal team vs Mexico

Portugal starting XI: Rui Silva; Matheus Nunes, Antonio Silva, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Ruben Neves, Samu Costa, Bruno Fernandes; Francisco Conceicao, Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos

Portugal substitutes: Ricardo Velho, Jose Sa, Goncalo Inacio, Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Tomas Araujo, Mateus Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Francisco Trincao, Paulinho, Pedro Neto, Pedro Goncalves, Ricardo Horta, Goncalo Guedes

Mexico team vs Portugal

Mexico starting XI: Raul Rangel, Israel Reyes, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Gallardo, Roberto Alvarado, Alvaro Fidalgo, Erik Lira, Obed Vargas, Brian Gutierrez, Raul Jimenez

Mexico substitutes: Jorge Sanchez, German Berterame, Carlos Rodriguez, Alexis Vega, Guillermo Martinez, Carlos Acevedo, Guillermo Ochoa, Erick Sanchez, Julian Quinones, Orbelin Pineda, Denzell Garcia, Everardo Lopez, Richard Ledezma, Armando Gonzalez, Jesus Angulo

Portugal, Mexico 2026 World Cup schedules

Here’s how Portugal and Mexico’s initial fixtures look at the World Cup. Portugal are in Group K, Mexico in Group A.

Fixtures with an asterisk start the next day.