For over two decades, Ronaldo has consistently set new milestones in football. One of his most memorable achievements is becoming the first player to score in six World Cups. However, amidst this vast collection of accomplishments, a significant gap remains. Across eight World Cup knockout matches since the 2006 tournament, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has neither scored nor provided an assist.

Widely considered to be his final World Cup, Ronaldo has limited opportunities left to erase this statistic, which has shadowed him since the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Today's match against Croatia at BMO Field in Toronto could be the last chance for the 41-year-old forward.

Cristiano Ronaldo (number 7) scores Portugal's third goal in a World Cup 2026 Group K match against Uzbekistan at Houston on 23/6. *Photo: AP*

The drought spans nearly two decades, with Ronaldo's goalless streak in knockout rounds beginning at the 2006 World Cup. During that tournament, he started all four of Portugal's knockout matches: a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the round of 16, a penalty shootout win against England after a 0-0 quarter-final draw, a 0-1 loss to France in the semi-finals, and a 1-3 defeat to hosts Germany in the third-place play-off. Despite these appearances, he did not score in any of them.

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Ronaldo again started in Portugal's 0-1 loss to Spain in the round of 16. The defense, commanded by Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, offered the then-Real Madrid forward almost no opportunities to make an impact.

Four years later in Brazil, Portugal failed to advance past the group stage, finishing third in Group G behind the United States and Germany.

The 2018 World Cup saw one of Ronaldo's most impressive performances, including a hat-trick against Spain. However, Portugal lost 1-2 to Uruguay in the round of 16, a match where their captain remained silent.

By Qatar 2022, Ronaldo's role had significantly diminished. He only came on as a substitute in the victory over Switzerland in the round of 16 and the quarter-final loss to Morocco, ending his World Cup campaign in tears.

Ronaldo cries after Portugal lost to Morocco and was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup. *Video: ITV*

Croatia presents a significant challenge but also a potential final opportunity. The loss to Morocco is seen as the clearest illustration of the knockout "curse". In that match, coach Fernando Santos controversially kept Ronaldo on the bench. Ronaldo was only introduced after halftime, with his team already trailing. He had few opportunities beyond a shot in injury time, and Portugal ultimately lost 0-1.

The current circumstances are markedly different. Under Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo has started all three of Portugal's World Cup 2026 group stage matches, winning the competition for a starting spot against Goncalo Ramos. There is no indication that the Spanish coach will change this selection before facing Croatia.

The historical head-to-head record also provides confidence for Ronaldo. He has scored against Croatia two times, most recently in the UEFA Nations League 2024 following an assist from Nuno Mendes.

Croatia's defense no longer maintains its previous solidity. The Balkan team conceded five goals in this year's World Cup group stage, including four against England. In March, Croatia also lost 1-3 to Brazil, indicating their difficulties against teams with high-quality attacking prowess.

Ronaldo celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 in Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia at home in Da Luz, Lisbon on 5/9/2024. *Photo: LUSA*

The key lies in how Ronaldo is utilized. Coach Martinez faces considerable pressure as Portugal has not yet fully leveraged the potential of what is considered one of the most talented generations of players in the nation's history.

Bruno Fernandes displayed high performance at Man Utd during the 2025-2026 season, breaking the Premier League assist record and winning the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season awards.

Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, and Vitinha were all crucial players in PSG's two consecutive Champions League titles. Meanwhile, Pedro Neto made an impression at Chelsea, Rafael Leao is AC Milan's primary forward, and Bernardo Silva helped Man City secure a domestic double—the FA Cup and League Cup.

One of the reasons for Portugal's struggles is their inability to create enough clear chances, especially against opponents who prioritize defending in numbers. This has limited Ronaldo to scoring only two goals, despite his finishing ability still being highly regarded when he has space.

At 41, Ronaldo no longer possesses the physical stamina to consistently drop deep to receive the ball and make solo runs. He is most effective when teammates deliver the ball early into the penalty area, similar to his opening goal against Uzbekistan from a cross by Joao Cancelo.

Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan match highlights.

A final opportunity to shape his legacy. If Ronaldo scores against Croatia, he will not only end a drought spanning nearly 20 years but also alter perceptions of the final chapter of his World Cup career.

Comparisons with Lionel Messi remain ever-present. While Messi has been involved in 11 World Cup knockout goals and lifted the trophy in Qatar, Ronaldo has yet to create an iconic moment in the knockout stages.

Many former players, such as Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes, have questioned Ronaldo's role in the Portugal squad after the group stage. Should he remain silent against Croatia, the pressure on the veteran forward will intensify.

Conversely, a strong performance in Toronto would not only silence the doubts but could also become his lasting mark in the World Cup knockout rounds—the missing piece in an otherwise nearly complete career. Furthermore, it could bolster Ronaldo's belief in pursuing the gold trophy.

Hong Duy (according to Sports Mole)