Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he expects to receive boos from the crowd when Portugal face the Republic of Ireland in World Cup qualifying at the Aviva Stadium, but promised to be a “good boy” on the pitch.
Portugal can secure qualification for next year’s tournament with a win in Dublin, while Ireland are currently third in Group F, one point off second place and needing results to reach the play-off spot.
Ronaldo’s warning comes after Portugal won the reverse fixture 1-0 at home, thanks to Ruben Neves’ 91st-minute winner. Ronaldo celebrated the goal in front of Ireland defender Jake O’Brien, which he acknowledged could make for a frosty reception in Dublin.
“I really like the fans here. The support they give to the national team is lovely. For me, it’s a pleasure to come and play here again,” Ronaldo said. “Of course, it will be tough. I hope they don’t boo me too much. I swear that I’m going to try to be a good boy. But of course, I do my job. I try to win the game and try to score to help my team. I’m sure that the game will be difficult.”
Ronaldo has five goals in four appearances during this World Cup qualifying campaign and has attempted 26 shots, only two more than any other player. In the reverse fixture, he had a penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, and his last outing at the Aviva Stadium in November 2021 ended goalless despite five shots.
Earlier this week, Ronaldo announced that the 2026 World Cup will be his final major international tournament. The 40-year-old, who has scored 143 goals for Portugal, remains focused on contributing to the team’s success, stressing that national triumphs depend on more than one player.
“A national team doesn’t depend on one good player, but it helps to have good players who can make a difference, especially with goals,” he added. “It’s always good for me to score goals. I want to play in this next World Cup, but we’ll take it step by step.”
