Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, aiming for his sixth World Cup, has cheekily stated that he hopes Ireland fans boo him during Thursday’s crucial qualifier in Dublin, believing the focus on him will ease the pressure on his teammates to secure victory.
November 13, 2025: Cristiano Ronaldo is embracing his role as the lightning rod for Portugal as the team heads into a decisive World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland. A victory in Dublin on Thursday will guarantee Portugal a spot in the 2026 World Cup finals.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, stated that he is ready for the hostile reception he is accustomed to.
“The stadium will boo me; I’m used to it. I certainly hope they do—maybe it will take the pressure off other players,” Ronaldo stated, showing confidence that his presence can be used as a strategic tool for his squad.
Focus on Qualification, Not 1,000 Goals
Portugal currently holds a commanding five-point lead in qualifying Group F with only two matches remaining and is widely expected to seal its qualification at the Aviva Stadium.
Ronaldo, who recently confirmed that the 2026 tournament will “definitely” be his last World Cup, was also asked about the almost fairytale possibility of scoring his 1,000th career goal in the final of the 2026 World Cup.
The 40-year-old laughed off the Hollywood-esque scenario: “You’ve been watching too many movies; that would be too perfect.”
Ronaldo currently stands at 953 career goals, meaning he needs 47 more strikes to reach the mythical 1,000 mark. He quickly steered the conversation back to the team’s immediate objective:
“Getting back to reality, all this data makes me happy. A national team never depends on one player, but I like making a difference with goals. I want to play in this next World Cup; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here. But let’s take it step by step.”
Ronaldo emphasized the need for focus ahead of the “difficult” match against an Ireland side expected to play defensively, adding: “There’s no point in being repetitive and losing focus. Maybe later on, I’ll give more interviews and speak more clearly about my future plans. But right now, Portugal has another opportunity to be in the finals.”
The match against Ireland will kick off at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, November 13, at 7:45 p.m. GMT (1:15 a.m. IST, Friday, Nov 14).