Cristiano Ronaldo has delivered an inspiring rallying call to the Portugal team and fans ahead of the World Cup last-16 tie with Switzerland.
The Portuguese go up against the Swiss in the first knockout round on Tuesday evening. Victory at the Lusail Stadium will secure a quarter-final berth for only the third time in history, and the second in Ronaldo’s international career.
The country’s legendary skipper enters the match on a two-game goalless skid and at the center of another fresh wave of criticism following his substitution against South Korea, where he put his index finger to his lips in response to Cho Gue-sung telling him to leave quickly.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo is back and means business on what could be a historic night for Portuguese football.
“Today is for Portugal!” the 37-year-old forward posted on Instagram.
“For the Portuguese! For us and for ours! Today is for all the dreams that we carry in each one of us! Let’s do everything.”
Ronaldo’s only goal in Qatar so far came in Portugal’s 3-2 win over Ghana in their group-stage opener. The goal made him the first men’s player to score in five World Cups. The forward will hope to add to his tally again in his latest game. Whoever wins between Portugal and Switzerland will face either Morocco or Spain in the quarter-finals.