Portugal Rescues Cristiano Ronaldo After Missed Penalty and Beats Ireland at the Death

Portugal left it late to snatch a dramatic victory over Ireland, overcoming a missed penalty from star forward Cristiano Ronaldo to secure a crucial win in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The match, played in Dublin, saw the Portuguese dominate large spells of possession but struggle to break down a resolute Irish defense. Their best chance came in the 62nd minute when Ronaldo stepped up to take a penalty after a foul in the box — but the veteran striker’s effort was saved, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Despite the setback, Portugal remained relentless in attack, with Bruno Fernandes and João Félix pushing forward in search of a breakthrough. Just when it seemed the match would end in a frustrating draw, substitute Gonçalo Ramos found the back of the net in stoppage time, sending the Portuguese bench into wild celebration.

The late goal not only rescued the three points for Portugal but also spared Ronaldo from criticism, as the team’s collective resilience overshadowed his rare miss from the spot.

With the win, Portugal edges closer to securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Ireland is left to reflect on what might have been after a strong defensive display fell just short in the final moments.

Then, in the 90th minute, the breakthrough finally came. Rúben Neves, the Al Hilal midfielder, rose in the box to head home a perfect cross from Trincão, sealing the win and sending the stadium into jubilation. After scoring, Neves dedicated the goal to the late Diogo Jota, revealing a tattoo on his leg in his honor.

The goal was the just reward for Portugal’s relentless effort, as they never stopped attacking despite earlier frustrations. With this result, Portugal remains perfect in qualifying, leading Group F with nine points, followed by Hungary (4), Armenia (3), and Ireland (1).