World Cup 2026: Ronaldo Seeks the Joy of Six in Dublin

Republic of Ireland vs Portugal

We now know that next summer’s Stateside showpiece will be the official farewell, internationally, for one of the greatest – possibly the greatest ever – to grace the game.

That was confirmed this week when the irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo announced he would be calling it a day from his beloved Portugal next year during which he will turn 41.

Only elite athletes could still be performing at this level so consistently at such an age and it is due to his sheer dedication and professionalism that it is possible.

Now for the final push though: to guide his side to next summer’s biggest event, Ronaldo and Co. need two points from World Cup 2026 qualifiers in the Republic of Ireland on Thursday and at home to Armenia on Sunday to guarantee top spot in their group.

 

Talking Points 

Next year’s World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, would be Ronaldo’s sixth but the veteran superstar, who has scored 953 goals for club and country, has plenty of other targets to aim for before he plans to retire from football in “one or two years”.

The all-time leading international goalscorer with 143, the Al-Nassr player is continuing to pursue a milestone 1,000 career goals and would move ever closer with some World Cup qualifier 2025 highlights over the next few days.

It’s all in Portugal’s hands and no-one expects the nation ranked 62^nd in the world to reach next summer’s World Cup as it has been clear for some time they likely need a miracle.

Yet with a passionate crowd behind them at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland, who are third – one point behind Hungary in Group F – retain an outside chance of reaching the play-offs and Roberto Martinez’s men will be aware they were pushed all the way before they broke the hearts of the Emerald Isle in their initial qualifier a month ago.

The evergreen Ronaldo, who helped Portugal to the Euro 2016 title and has five Ballon d’Ors in his cabinet, has the most caps of any player in history with 225 and a great supporting cast, although left back Nuno Mendes will miss this contest with injury. For the hosts, the talented Evan Ferguson has been ruled out so Celtic marksman Johnny Kenny has been called up as a replacement.

Portugal have been World Cup regulars and reached the quarter-finals in 2022 where they surprisingly lost 1-0 to Morocco. Ireland, meanwhile, are aiming to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

Their best ever finish was in 1990 when, under the legendary Jack Charlton, they reached the quarter-finals.

 

History

I remember one game between the nations just over four years ago which only further cemented Ronaldo’s brilliance in the annals of the game.

That was when CR7 scored twice at the death to become the all-time leading scorer in international football history.

This will be the 18^th competitive encounter and Portugal have the edge in the overall head-to-heads with 10 victories, while Ireland have four wins and there have been three draws. Portugal are unbeaten in their last five (won four, drawn one).

Their very first meeting was a friendly in Lisbon in 1946 when the hosts scored three times in the opening 20 minutes en route to a 3-1 success. Fernando Peyroteo (two) and Lantres de Carvalho Rogerio were the marksmen while a player by the name of ‘Jack O’Reilly the second’ pulled one back for Ireland in the second half.

An own goal by goalkeeper Vitor Baia settled the first ever competitive meeting between the teams in a Euro 96 qualifier in April 1995.

Yet it was different in Portugal six months later when Rui Costa, Helder and Jorge Cadete scored in a 3-0 home win and it was Portugal who reached the following year’s tournament.

It’s 20 years since Ireland last defeated Portugal – a 2005 friendly in Dublin which was settled by a solitary Andy O’Brien goal.

 

Betting Tip 

Portugal are massive favourites with the SBOTOP World Cup qualifier betting odds, priced 1X2 @ 1.32 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.33.

You can get a re-run of the meeting 20 years ago with Correct Score 1-0 @ 21.00 or for Portugal to repeat their success by the same scoreline a month ago @ 6.40.

The draw is on offer @ 4.65 while Irish odds include 1X2 @ 7.80 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.13.

As much as I have a soft spot for Ireland, the days of them producing a team of leading players have disappeared (for now) and I cannot see beyond Ronaldo leading his troops to a sixth World Cup.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.