'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ireland assistant coach John O'Shea is confident that his team can keep Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at bay. The two sides lock horns at the Dublin Arena on Thursday, November 13, in their penultimate 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Portugal are top of Group F after four games, with three wins and a draw to their name. Ireland, meanwhile, sit third, with two defeats and one win so far.
Ronaldo arrives at the game in tremendous form, having scored 10 goals from 11 games for Al-Nassr this season. The 40-year-old, however, failed to find the back of the net against Ireland last month, and O'Shea reckons his team can stop his former teammate once again.
Trending
However, speaking recently as cited by the Irish Examiner, O'Shea insisted that Portugal have plenty of threats besides Ronaldo in the team.
“Listen, we managed to stop him in the last game. Portugal have plenty of threats in the team. He (Ronaldo) had that shot from outside of the box but otherwise the team as a unit, defensively in particular, did brilliantly in the duels and the crosses we had to deal with," said O'Shea.
He continued:
“It will be a similar situation again on Thursday. We have to be tight, aggressive and have to clear crosses, the usual stuff that will go into a big Irish victory. We must defend our box. And not just defenders, it’s midfield and attack. Everyone connected, ensuring the units are together and strong.”
Ireland were undone by a 91st-minute Ruben Neves goal during their meeting last month. Cristiano Ronaldo also missed a penalty in the game.
How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Portugal to date?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the record goalscorer in men's international football, with 143 goals from 225 games for Portugal. For context, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's archrival Lionel Messi has 114 goals from 195 games for Argentina.
The Portuguese superstar has scored 953 goals in 1296 appearances for club and country in his career, and now has his sights on the fabled 1000-goal mark. Cristiano Ronaldo is also looking ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which could be his swan song in international football.
The Al-Nassr star won the Euros in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019, as well as earlier this year, with his national team. However, Ronaldo is yet to lift the Holy Grail of Football - the FIFA World Cup.
