Cristiano Ronaldo breaks records with knockout goal against Croatia
Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup knockout history after converting a crucial second-half penalty for Portugal against Croatia.
With Roberto Martinez’s side trailing in the second half, the 41-year-old captain stepped up to convert a high-pressure 67th-minute penalty, coolly slotting the ball home to tie the match at 1-1 and ignite the Portuguese fans.
The equalizer carries immense historical weight for the veteran forward. According to statistics provider Squawka, Ronaldo has officially become the oldest player in World Cup history to score a goal in the knockout stages, reaching the milestone at 41 years and 147 days old.
Astonishingly, the spot-kick also represents Ronaldo’s first-ever goal in the knockout phase of a World Cup tournament across his six tournament appearances, filling one of the few remaining blanks in his incomparable footballing resume.
