FIFA World Cup 2026: Can Cristiano Ronaldo End His Knockout Goal Drought?

July 2, 2026

Toronto: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be aiming to end one of the few missing achievements in his legendary career when Portugal take on Croatia in the Round of 32 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. Despite scoring in six consecutive FIFA World Cups, Ronaldo is yet to find the net in a World Cup knockout match.

The highly anticipated clash will also see two Real Madrid legends, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, face each other once again on football’s biggest stage.

A Record-Breaking World Cup Career

Ronaldo has represented Portugal in every FIFA World Cup since 2006 and has now scored in six consecutive editions, a feat unmatched by any player in tournament history.

During Portugal’s group-stage win over Uzbekistan, Ronaldo scored twice to become Portugal’s all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 10 goals, overtaking the legendary Eusebio, who scored nine goals. Pauleta remains third on Portugal’s World Cup scoring list with four goals.

The brace also ended Ronaldo’s 10-match goal drought across major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.

Closing in on Another World Cup Record

Against Colombia, Ronaldo made his 25th FIFA World Cup appearance, drawing level with Lothar Matthäus for the second-most appearances in tournament history. Only Lionel Messi, with 29 appearances, has played more World Cup matches.

Portugal’s emphatic victory over Uzbekistan, in which Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leão also scored, came after the team opened its campaign with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. The win revived Portugal’s World Cup campaign and improved their goal difference ahead of the knockout stage.

Can Ronaldo Finally End His Knockout Goal Drought?

While Ronaldo’s World Cup résumé includes numerous records and milestones, a goal in the knockout stage has continued to elude him. As Portugal prepare to face Croatia, the 41-year-old will have another opportunity to finally break that streak and add yet another record to his illustrious career.