Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo has openly welcomed the prospect of hostile treatment from Irish supporters during Thursday’s crucial World Cup qualifier. The veteran forward believes that focused criticism directed at him could benefit his teammates by reducing pressure on their performances.
Portugal can secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a victory against Ireland in Dublin. Ronaldo’s comments during Wednesday’s press conference revealed his strategic approach to managing crowd dynamics in important matches.
Ronaldo expressed familiarity with negative receptions from opposing fans throughout his career. “The stadium will boo me, I’m used to it, I certainly hope they do — maybe it will take the pressure off other players,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner stated.
This psychological approach demonstrates Ronaldo’s experience in high-pressure international fixtures. His willingness to absorb fan hostility could create a more favourable environment for less experienced Portuguese players. The Portuguese captain anticipates a challenging encounter against Ireland’s defensive organisation. He predicted the home team would employ a deep defensive structure, limiting space for Portugal’s attacking players.
Cristiano Ronaldo has praised the Ireland fans ahead of tomorrow nights qualifier – and pleaded with them not to boo him 👀
He also said he hoped to see his old Manchester United teammate John O’Shea ahead of kick-off pic.twitter.com/p7Nlx6xemt
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 12, 2025Ronaldo’s assessment acknowledges Ireland’s potential tactical approach despite their elimination from qualification contention. The match represents an important test for Portugal’s attacking creativity against compact defences.
When questioned about potentially scoring his 1000th career goal in a World Cup final, Ronaldo responded with humour and perspective. “You’ve been watching too many movies, that would be too perfect,” the 40-year-old laughed.
The Al Nassr striker currently maintains 953 career goals, approaching the remarkable milestone. His international record already stands unmatched with 143 goals for Portugal.
Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms 2026 World Cup Will Be His Last
Ronaldo recently confirmed his expectation that the 2026 World Cup would represent his final tournament appearance. However, he emphasised maintaining focus on immediate qualification objectives rather than distant personal milestones. “There’s no point in being repetitive and losing focus,” Ronaldo explained regarding questions about his footballing future. He preferred concentrating on Portugal’s collective mission to secure qualification for the World Cup.
