Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has called on fans to support the team in their upcoming FIFA World Cup round of 32 match against Croatia, posting on Instagram with the caption "Facam-nos sentir em casa," which translates to "make us feel at home." The match is scheduled for Friday in Toronto at 4:30 AM IST.
Portugal faces Croatia in crucial knockout tie
The star-studded Portugal side will be aiming for a pre-quarterfinal spot against a solid and consistent Croatia team led by 40-year-old Luka Modric. After two draws in the group stage, Ronaldo and his teammates are determined to stamp their authority on a quality opponent.
The match carries emotional significance as it coincides with the first death anniversary of late striker Diogo Jota, who passed away in a road accident in Spain last year.
Ronaldo equals World Cup appearance record
During Portugal's group stage match against Colombia, the 41-year-old Ronaldo made his 25th FIFA World Cup appearance, equaling Germany great Lothar Matthaus for the second-most appearances in tournament history. Only Argentina captain Lionel Messi, with 29 appearances, has featured in more World Cup matches.
In the match against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo scored twice to lead Portugal to a 4-0 victory. Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao also found the net, and an own goal by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov compounded the misery for Fabio Cannavaro's side. The win was Roberto Martinez's first of the tournament in emphatic fashion.
Ronaldo becomes Portugal's all-time World Cup top scorer
Ronaldo's brace saw him become Portugal's all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, taking his tally to 10 goals and surpassing Eusebio's record of nine. Eusebio, a Portuguese legend and 1965 Ballon d'Or winner, famously guided the team to third place at the 1966 World Cup. Behind Ronaldo and Eusebio, Pauleta is third on Portugal's World Cup scoring list with four goals.
Ronaldo also became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, ending a 10-match goalless streak across major competitions, including the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship.
Portugal bounces back after group stage draw
Portugal's victory came as a strong response after they were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening group-stage encounter. That performance had put Ronaldo's team under scrutiny. The win helped Portugal get their World Cup campaign back on track and significantly boosted their goal difference ahead of the final group fixture.
According to a report from ANI, the team is focused and ready for the challenge against Croatia. Fans are expected to pack the stadium in Toronto, and Ronaldo's message highlights the importance of their support as Portugal aims to advance further in the tournament.
