Cristiano Ronaldo Sparks Debate Over Muslim Prayer Before World Cup Penalty Kick

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first-ever World Cup knockout stage goal on July 3, 2026, helping Portugal overturn a deficit to beat Croatia 2-1 and advance to the round of 16. The goal came from a penalty kick, which sparked an online debate after some Arab social media users claimed Ronaldo whispered a Muslim prayer, "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah), before taking the shot. Portuguese fans and commentators countered that he was actually motivating himself by saying "vais marcar," meaning "I am going to score." This discussion generated a lively back-and-forth across social media.

After the match, Ronaldo addressed speculation about his future, responding to his sister Katia Aveiro's comment that the 2026 World Cup might be his last. He stated, "I do not make hasty decisions. I will decide after the tournament, not now." Ronaldo appeared emotional during the post-match celebrations in Toronto, where fans gathered outside Portugal's hotel to celebrate the victory.

Reflecting on the match, Ronaldo said, "As captain, I have been through moments like this. To win a tournament of this scale, you need to endure. We controlled the first half, but the second half became chaotic. They scored, we felt pressure, but the penalty goal relieved us emotionally. It was tough again afterward, but you have to be ready for that." His penalty goal tied him with Lionel Messi for the most World Cup penalty goals, with four each.

Ronaldo also paid tribute to Luka Modric, who was eliminated with Croatia, calling him a football legend and expressing respect for his career. The most poignant moment came when Ronaldo wore the shirt of his late teammate Diogo Jota to honor the first anniversary of Jota's death. Ronaldo was visibly emotional, saying, "Jota is up there shining on us. We all felt his presence, and the best way to honor him was to win today."