Shooting Greatness: Covering Portugal vs Ireland in Lisbon
This past week has definitely been one of new achievements for me. After covering the NFL game in London just days earlier, I headed to Lisbon on Saturday to photograph the World Cup Qualifiers match between Portugal and Ireland at the legendary Estádio José Alvalade, home of Sporting CP.
It was an exciting assignment for many reasons — but let’s be honest, having the chance to photograph Cristiano Ronaldo up close for the very first time is something I’ll be telling my grandkids about.
Arriving at the Stadium
I caught the bus to Lisbon in the afternoon and arrived about four hours before kick-off. After picking up my credentials, photographer’s vest, and a small lunch kit, I made my way pitch-side and set up in one of the corners of the field.
The stadium slowly filled with fans, and although there were a few Irish supporters who had traveled down with me, the crowd was a sea of red and green. When the players came out for the warm-up — and especially when number 7 ran in — the noise was deafening. The home crowd never stopped cheering all night.
Capturing the Action
I decided to stay in the same spot for both halves. With Portugal dominating possession, I mostly saw the backs of their players in the first half — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It allowed me to capture strong shots of the goalkeeper and defenders, not just the forwards.
At halftime, I used the break to edit, add metadata, and upload the first batch of photos to the agency website.
The second half was a completely different story. With Ronaldo playing right in front of me, the opportunities were endless. He gives everything on the pitch — the energy, emotion, and intensity make him a dream subject for any sports photographer.
The rest of the Portuguese team performed brilliantly as well, with Rúben Neves scoring the winning goal after Ronaldo missed a penalty earlier in the match.
Lessons and Gear Setup
After a camera glitch during the NFL game in London, I came prepared this time with three bodies:
Canon R6 Mark II with a 400mm lens as my main setup
Canon 1DX Mark II paired with a 70–200mm
Canon 1DX with a 24–70mm for closer plays and stadium atmosphere
Everything worked flawlessly. I captured the shots I was aiming for and left with another unforgettable experience doing what I love most — sports photography.
Each event, each game, each opportunity just makes me want more. I’m incredibly excited about the path I’ve chosen this year — to go all in and dedicate myself 100% to this passion. The dream keeps growing, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.
