Historic Moment for Cristiano Ronaldo
The wait is finally over for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored his first-ever knockout stage goal for Portugal in the FIFA World Cup, more than 20 years after his debut in the tournament.
In the 68th minute of the round of 32 match against Croatia on Thursday at Toronto Stadium, Portugal was awarded a penalty kick after a VAR review, which Ronaldo successfully converted from the spot, making him the oldest player to score a goal in a knockout stage match at 41 years old.
Just moments before scoring, Ronaldo thought he had achieved his first knockout stage goal, but it was called offside. He has now accumulated 23 career offside calls at the World Cup, the second-most of any player, behind Robin van Persie's 25.
After the goal, Ronaldo expressed his emotions, having attempted 29 shots in eight World Cup knockout stage games without scoring before this match, tied for the most of any player since 1966, along with Brazil's Roberto Carlos.
With this goal, Ronaldo now has a total of 11 World Cup goals, tying him for ninth-most all-time with Jürgen Klinsmann and Sándor Kocsis, achieved in 26 matches, the second-most ever behind Lionel Messi.
