Cristiano Ronaldo Wants Ireland Fans to Boo Him in World Cup Qualifier

CR7 hopes for hostile crowd in Dublin as Portugal face Ireland

Cristiano Ronaldo wants Ireland fans to boo him in Thursday's World Cup qualifier, hoping to take pressure off his teammates.

“Maybe later on I'll give more interviews and speak more clearly about what I think for the future...”

Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping the Irish fans will give him a hostile reception when Portugal takes on Ireland in Thursday's World Cup qualifier in Dublin. The Portuguese superstar believes that if the crowd focuses on him, it could take some pressure off his teammates.

Ronaldo, who's aiming to play at a sixth World Cup next summer, said he's looking forward to the intense atmosphere in Dublin. Portugal is currently top of Group F, five points clear with two games to go, and a win would virtually seal their place in the 2026 World Cup finals.

“The stadium will boo me, I'm used to it. I certainly hope they do - maybe it will take the pressure off other players,” Ronaldo told a news conference Wednesday.

Ronaldo said he expected it would be a “difficult” match, with Ireland sitting back and denying him and his teammates space.

Ronaldo was also quizzed about the prospect of scoring his 1000th career goal in the World Cup final, but he kept his focus on the bigger picture. “I don't think about individual records,” he said. “I think about the team and helping Portugal achieve our goals.”

“You've been watching too many movies, that would be too perfect,” laughed Ronaldo, 40.

“Getting back to reality, all this data makes me happy. A national team never depends on one player, but I like being able to make a difference with goals.

“It's always good to score goals, that's my position. I want to play in this next World Cup, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but let's take it step by step.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has an incredible career tally of 953 goals. This impressive record includes 810 goals scored in club football and 143 goals in international matches for Portugal.

O futuro é agora. #FazHistória por Portugal. ✨ @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/EEku9AUhj5

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) January 6, 2025

Ronaldo's goal-scoring prowess is unmatched, and he's continued to shine in the Saudi Pro League. Since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, he's scored 109 goals, making him a fan favorite among the club's supporter.

With his sights set on the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down. His relentless pursuit of excellence has cemented his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

“There's no point in being repetitive and losing focus,” he added.

“Maybe later on I'll give more interviews and speak more clearly about what I think for the future, but Portugal has another opportunity to be in another finals.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, the leading men's international goalscorer with 143 goals, has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last major tournament. He expects to retire from football within a couple of years, stating he's been in the game for 25 years and has achieved everything.

However, Ronaldo prefers to focus on Portugal's World Cup qualifying campaign rather than discuss his future.