What is Cristiano Ronaldo’s record against Croatia?
Cristiano Ronaldo has faced Croatia five times for Portugal across his international career so far, winning on all five occasions whilst scoring two goals and registering two assists.
Ahead of Portugal’s clash with Croatia in the UEFA Nations League, we analyse Ronaldo’s record against them over the course of his five previous appearances facing said nation.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Croatia
Played 5
Wins 5
Goals 2
Assists 2
Portugal 2-0 Croatia - International Friendly - November 12th 2005
Ronaldo made his first appearance vs Croatia as a 20-year-old back in November 2005, a starting berth in Coimbra and a memorable one at that. With the score at 1-0, Ronaldo spearheaded a second half counter-attack, driving up the field before his pass set up Pauleta to score Portugal’s second goal. At the time, Pauleta was Portugal’s all-time record goalscorer, but Ronaldo went on to overtake him in March 2014, scoring his 48th and 49th international goals in a 5-1 friendly win over Cameroon.
Croatia 0-1 Portugal - International Friendly - June 10th 2013
Ronaldo’s second appearance against Croatia took place just over seven and a half years later and saw him score the only goal of the game in a 0-1 friendly victory in Geneva. CR7 captained a Portuguese side which included Hugo Almeida, Joao Moutinho and Ruben Amorim.
Croatia 0-1 Portugal (aet) - UEFA Euro 2016 (RO16) - June 25th 2016
In what was a nail-biting Round of 16 affair at the 2016 UEFA European Championships, Ronaldo would play a big part in the final outcome. With penalties looming, Portugal struck in the 117th minute as Ronaldo’s close-range shot was turned in on the rebound by Ricardo Quaresma following an excellent save from Croatia keeper Danijel Subasic.
Croatia 2-3 Portugal - UEFA Nations League - November 17th 2020
Although Ronaldo didn’t register a goal or assist in this game, his free kick led to Portugal’s first goal, an equaliser after having fallen behind. Ronaldo’s swerving strike was palmed away by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, but fell to Ruben Semedo, who tapped the ball across goal for Ruben Dias to convert. Portugal went on to take the lead before being pegged back by ten-man Croatia. But Dias’ second goal late on sealed victory for Ronaldo & co.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia - UEFA Nations League - September 5th 2024
Ronaldo's 900th senior career goal and his 131st in a Portuguese shirt came during a 2-1 win against Croatia in the second UEFA Nations League clash between the two nations involving CR7. With the score at 1-0, Nuno Mendes’s whipped cross from the left-hand-side was volleyed home by Ronaldo inside the six-yard-box, doubling Portugal’s lead and making it a fourth attacking return for him over the course of five appearances when facing Croatia.
