Cristiano Ronaldo wants Ireland fans to boo him in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier, believing it will take pressure off his teammates and help Portugal qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo is embracing the idea of a hostile crowd when Portugal takes on Ireland in Dublin on Thursday. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner believes that if the Irish fans focus on him, it could take some pressure off his teammates and help Portugal secure a vital win.

“I hope they do [boo me], maybe it will take the pressure off other players,” Ronaldo said at a news conference on Wednesday. “The stadium will boo me, I’m used to it.” Portugal leads qualifying Group F by five points with two matches remaining, and a win in Dublin would virtually guarantee their spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo, 40, is aiming to play at a sixth World Cup next summer and is focused on helping Portugal qualify. He expects a tough match against Ireland, saying the hosts will sit back and try to deny Portugal and him space.

When asked about the possibility of scoring his 1,000th career goal in the World Cup final, Ronaldo laughed it off, saying, “You’ve been watching too many movies, that would be too perfect.” He currently has 953 goals in his career and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 goals.

Ronaldo has hinted that the 2026 World Cup could be his last, and he expects to retire from football within a couple of years. However, he prefers to focus on the team’s goal of qualifying rather than discuss his future in the game. “There’s no point in being repetitive and losing focus,” he said.

Portugal’s focus is on securing a spot in the World Cup, and Ronaldo is determined to lead by example.