Ronaldo on Portugal's win: We had to learn to suffer

Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledged the tough nature of major tournaments following Portugal's 2-1 win against Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. "Today we had to learn what suffering is. We have to learn to suffer to win a tournament of this magnitude," he stated.

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Today we had to learn what suffering is. We have to learn to suffer to win a tournament of this magnitude.

The star player found the match engaging for fans, noting that while Portugal controlled parts of the first half, the second half became more chaotic. "They scored and we got a bit tense, but when we converted the penalty, we had an emotional breakthrough," Ronaldo explained. He added that the game "became easier" after the penalty, though challenges remained, which is typical for such tournaments.

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Spectators had a very interesting match. We controlled the game somewhat in the first half, but the second half was more chaotic. They scored and we got a bit tense, but when we converted the penalty, we had an emotional breakthrough.

Ronaldo also addressed his decision to celebrate Portugal's advancement with Diogo Jota's jersey number. "Today is a special day for our Jota, who is shining a light on us from above. We knew he was with us, and we had to win today to honor his memory in the best way possible," he said. Jota and his brother tragically died in a traffic accident in Spain on July 3, 2025.

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From then on, the game became easier. We still had some difficulties, but that's the nature of this tournament and we have to move forward.

Reflecting on his interaction with opponent Luka Modric, Ronaldo expressed profound respect. "Yes, I said goodbye to him. He will remain a football legend, we are almost the same age," Ronaldo commented, adding, "I have great respect for what Modric continues to do in football."

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Today is a special day for our Jota, who is shining a light on us from above. We knew he was with us, and we had to win today to honor his memory in the best way possible.