86 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal v Spain
Russia 2018 | Group B
Fisht Stadium, Sochi
Portugal’s campaign was just 131 seconds old when Ronaldo won a penalty after tricking his Real Madrid team-mate Nacho with trademark step-overs. The 33-year-old confidently converted it to become only the fourth man to net in four World Cups after Uwe Seeler, Pele and Miroslav Klose.
Ronaldo scored his second before the break, but Nacho’s breathtaking strike put Spain on the cusp of a 3-2 victory. In the dying embers, however, the Portugal No7 spun Gerard Pique and won a free-kick. Ronaldo then sprung up and dipped a superb shot under David De Gea’s crossbar. It made the 33-year-old the oldest hat-trick marksman in World Cup history, and snatched the Seleção das Quinas a point.
“I repeat what I have said over and over: Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos. “Mentally, there is no-one like him.”
