Cristiano Ronaldo has promised to be a “good boy” when Portugal face the Republic of Ireland tonight in their European World Cup Qualifier. The match is set to kick off at 7:45 p.m. local time (1:45 a.m. Bangladesh time) at Dublin’s iconic Aviva Stadium.
The 40-year-old Portuguese captain made the light-hearted remark during a pre-match press conference, reflecting on the tension that surrounded the last encounter between the two sides in Lisbon a month ago. On that occasion, Portugal edged past Ireland 1–0 thanks to a late goal from Rúben Neves. Ronaldo’s rather exuberant celebration — performed directly in front of Irish defender Jack O’Brien — had not gone down well with home supporters.
This time, Ronaldo is aware that he may be greeted with a chorus of boos from the Irish crowd, but he insists he can handle it.
Smiling, the Al Nassr forward said:
“I know I’ll be booed — that’s normal and I’m used to it. In fact, it sometimes helps my teammates by taking some of the pressure off them. I promise I’ll try to be a good boy this time!”
He also took a moment to praise the Irish supporters:
“The fans here are incredible. Their energy and love for football always impress me. It’s a pleasure to play in front of them again.”
During the Lisbon fixture, Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher saved a Ronaldo penalty, prompting some Irish fans to claim the officials were influenced by the Portuguese star’s reactions. Ronaldo acknowledged that Ireland will be eager to prove themselves tonight.
“They’ll play with a lot of urgency because they’re under pressure to qualify,” he said. “We know it will be a tough match, but we’re ready.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Career Statistics (as of 2025)
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Age | 40 years |
| Goals (club + country) | 953 |
| International goals | 128+ |
| Current club | Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia) |
| National team | Portugal |
| World Cup appearances | 5 (2006–2022) |
When asked whether he could reach the incredible milestone of 1,000 career goals by the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo responded with a laugh:
“You’ve been watching too many movies! It would be amazing, of course, but I’m already happy with what I’ve achieved. What matters most is the team’s success. I still want to make a difference and help Portugal at the next World Cup — otherwise, I wouldn’t still be here.”
Group F Standings (Before Tonight’s Match)
| Team | Matches Played | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 4 | 10 | 1st |
| Hungary | 4 | 5 | 2nd |
| Republic of Ireland | 4 | 4 | 3rd |
| Armenia | 4 | 3 | 4th |
If Portugal secure victory tonight, they will officially qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo concluded his press conference with a firm statement of intent:
“We’ll take it step by step, but our goal is clear — qualification for the World Cup.”
