Cristiano Ronaldo ends 20-year-long heartbreak with Portugal at the World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his 20-year-long heartbreak with Portugal at the World Cup, in tonight's Round of 32 clash vs Croatia.

The Portuguese icon has enjoyed an illustrious international career with his nation, winning the 2016 UEFA European Championship despite enduring early injury in the final vs France.

Since then, he has won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal twice, scoring 15 times in the competition and bagging a goal against Spain in his side's 2025 tournament victory.

At the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo made history by becoming the nation's top goalscorer in the competition, bagging his ninth and 10th career tournament goals.

That brace came against Uzbekistan in a 5-0 win, and two draws vs DR Congo and Colombia sent Portugal through to the knock-out phases.

Now, against Croatia, the iconic #7 has ended a 20-year-long heartbreak with Portugal on the World Cup stage, right on the brink of international retirement.

Cristiano Ronaldo finally bags elusive World Cup knock-out goal

Despite his remarkable international career with Portugal, Ronaldo has never scored in a World Cup knock-out match prior to this evening, despite playing in eight of such games.

Since 2006, the Portuguese maestro's international career has been absent of a goal scored beyond the group stage at the World Cup, but a penalty tonight vs Croatia changed that.

Minutes prior to the strike, with the spot kick being awarded to Portugal after a lengthy VAR check, Ronaldo scored from open-play and was subject to another check, eventually deeming him offside by mere millimetres.

The #7 took down a high ball with a deft touch, before dinking his finish over the Croatian shot-stopper, however, his lean during the build-up rendered him tightly offside.

When Portugal were awarded a penalty following a foul on Renato Veiga, Ronaldo did not hesitate, even with 20 years of knock-out stage heartbreak surely weighing heavy on his mind.

The 41-year-old placed his spot kick almost directly down the middle, beyond Dominik Livaković who last month saved a penalty from England's Harry Kane, which was later re-taken and converted.

The Round of 32 game between Portugal and Croatia has been filled with drama, and missed chances galore, with eight Opta-defined Big Chances having been created between both sides.

Of those eight, Portugal created five, scoring just one, and Croatia made three, also scoring just one, with the woodwork also being struck by each side.

Ronaldo's penalty was his 11th World Cup goal across six tournaments, moving him to joint ninth in the all-time scorers ranking.

Ahead of him is long-time rival Lionel Messi, who has scored the most goals in the tournament's history with 19.

Kylian Mbappe is hot on the Argentine's tail, with 18 strikes in vastly fewer appearances at the competition.