Portugal faced Brazil in the final group-stage game of the FIFA U17 International futsal Tournament in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday, 8 November.
In front of a packed arena, everything was decided in a matter of seconds: a Brazilian shot, a dive, and a roar from the Portuguese bench. The European side had just beaten Brazil (1–1, 4–2 on penalties) to top the group.
Portuguese goalkeeper Manuel Pires Rodrigues stood out during the decisive penalty shootout, saving two crucial shots. His heroics sparked scenes of celebration among his teammates, yet the young keeper remained calm, almost impassive, keeping a cool head.
“I really enjoyed this victory. We were superior, but now we need to focus on preparing for tomorrow’s match, because tomorrow we face an even bigger challenge,” Pires Rodrigues told Olympics.com.
Portugal and Brazil will meet again on Sunday evening (9 November at 1900 local time) in the futsal final at Dakar en Jeux 2025.