He was even told he had nothing to be ashamed of after missing a penalty against the Republic of Ireland. The Al-Nassr superstar missed his shot from 12 yards during a 2026 World Cup qualifier. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saved his penalty before Ruben Neves scored the decisive goal in added time.
Ronaldo was rescued when former Wolves midfielder Neves – who also plays in the Middle East for Al-Hilal – scored in the 91st minute and paid further tribute to his former international teammate Diogo Jota. Portugal retains the lead in qualifying Group A thanks to a third consecutive victory en route to the 2026 final tournament.
At one point, it looked like points were going to be lost against Irish opponents, and Ronaldo took his share of the blame. His penalty, in the 75th minute, was well struck, but he decided to go straight to the center. Instead of “Panenka” (a shot and a dink) which deceived the diving goalkeeper, Ronaldo's shot did not find enough air. Kelleher then put his leg forward and volleyed to safety.
CR7, distraught, walked away painfully with his head in his hands, but he had the opportunity to play the full 90 minutes. If he had found the net against Ireland, a new page of history would have been written. Currently, Ronaldo has 39 goals in World Cup qualifying with Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz, and is one more short of setting a new record.
Ronaldo remains a legend in Portugal.
In Portugal, no one is ready to accuse Ronaldo of letting his country down. The 40-year-old striker is a European champion and two-time UEFA Nations League champion. He has scored 141 international goals in 224 caps and continues to aim for 1,000 goals during his remarkable career.
Asked about Ronaldo's failure against Ireland, Renato Veiga told reporters: “ Cristiano has nothing to apologize for. For everything he has done for Portugal and Portuguese football, for what he continues to do and for his superb performance.
Ronaldo's victory in the World Cup? Portugal among the favorites
Current Nations League holders and with a talented group of players at Roberto Martinez's disposal – including Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, João Felix, Ruben Dias, Vitinha and Rafael Leão – Portugal are among the favorites to win a world title in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Veiga insists that no one is yet convinced by this fine performance, saying of a possible attempt at a historic coronation in 2026:
“Before that, the focus is on qualification, after which we can look forward. Of course, with this victory, Portugal gets closer to the World Cup. We are not yet qualified, and there is no point dwelling on what we have not yet accomplished. We know our quality and are confident in our potential, but we must remain humble and take each game at a time. »
