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Ronaldo ends 20-year wait with first World Cup knockout stage goal against Croatia

Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke his World Cup knockout stage duck on Thursday, converting a 68th-minute penalty for Portugal against Croatia in their round of 32 match at Toronto Stadium.

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Ronaldo ends 20-year wait with first World Cup knockout stage goal against Croatia
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first-ever World Cup knockout stage goal on Thursday, converting a penalty in the 68th minute of Portugal’s round of 32 clash against Croatia at Toronto Stadium — more than two decades after his debut at the tournament.

The milestone had eluded Ronaldo throughout a World Cup career stretching back to 2006, despite his prolific record in the group stages. Portugal were awarded the spot kick in the 68th minute, and the 40-year-old stepped up to make no mistake from twelve yards.

The moment almost arrived even sooner. Ronaldo believed he had broken the drought just moments before the penalty, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside — a familiar frustration for a player who has spent years chasing this particular landmark on football’s biggest stage.

The goal marks a significant chapter in one of the sport’s most decorated careers. Ronaldo made his World Cup debut at the 2006 tournament in Germany, and while he has been a consistent presence in the group stages across six editions of the competition, the knockout rounds had remained a personal scoring blank until now.

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