First knockout goal propelled Ronaldo to World Cup history in Croatia win

ByKehinde-Hassan Afolabi

Cristiano Ronaldo made history as the oldest starter and goalscorer in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, netting his first-ever knockout goal during Portugal’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo rewrote soccer history at 41 years and 147 days old during a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32.

The iconic forward became the oldest player to start and score in a men’s World Cup knockout fixture, confidently dispatching a 68th-minute penalty to level the match.

The historic equalizer marked Ronaldo’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout stage, elevating his tournament tally to 11 goals and placing him joint ninth on the all-time leaderboard.

The milestone extended his personal perfect record against Croatia to six wins from six games, highlighting his indispensable influence compared to Portugal’s 40 percent win rate without him.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi is a football journalist whose deep tactical understanding of the game makes him a standout, captivating audiences across print, audio, and video. His poetic background brings a unique rhythm and depth to his work, seamlessly transforming analysis into artistry. With a knack for narration and research, he captures the drama of the game beyond tactics and statistics, making each piece of his; a compelling blend of insight and storytelling.

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