⚽ Ronaldo Awaits Boos in Ireland Qualifier, Hopes to Relieve Teammate Pressure

Portuguese star forward Cristiano Ronaldo anticipates being booed by Irish fans during the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier, suggesting the negative attention could benefit his teammates by diverting pressure.

The match is scheduled for Thursday against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

🎤 Ronaldo’s Pre-Match Comments

Ronaldo, who is 40 years old, acknowledged his previous antics and vowed to be on his best behavior this time:

“The stadium will boo me, but I am used to it. I certainly hope they do. Maybe it will take the pressure off other players,” Ronaldo said ahead of the match.

He was referencing a previous encounter where, during Portugal’s 1-0 victory against Ireland last month, he sarcastically celebrated a stoppage-time header scored by Ruben Neves in front of Irish defender Jake O’Brien.

Despite expecting a hostile atmosphere, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner hopes the crowd remains respectful:

“Of course, it will be a tough match. I hope they don’t boo me too much,” he said. “I swear that I’m going to try to be a good boy.”

🌍 Qualification Scenario and Career Outlook

Portugal currently leads Group F, remaining undefeated with three wins in four games. A victory against Ireland would secure their direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo hopes to participate in his sixth World Cup tournament.
Ireland is third in the group, six points behind Portugal and one behind second-place Hungary. They need at least a point against Portugal to keep their play-off hopes alive before their final match against Hungary.

Ronaldo, who plays club football for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, recently announced plans to retire in “one or two years,” having scored over 950 goals in his career for both club and country.

Author Profile

Daily Olympic Digital

Daily Olympic is Pakistan’s first sports daily, simultaneously publishing from Narowal and Lahore. We are committed to providing our readers with the latest and most comprehensive sports coverage, from local to international events.