Cristiano Ronaldo sent a message ahead of Portugal’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Croatia that immediately caught the attention of fans.
The Portuguese captain took to Instagram to urge supporters to create an atmosphere that would make the team feel as if they were playing at home during this crucial encounter. His post quickly went viral.
Portugal heads into the match against a Croatia side led by Luka Modrić in a high-stakes battle for a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament. Ahead of the pressure-filled showdown, the 41-year-old Ronaldo shared a photo featuring the folded hands emoji and the Portuguese flag, along with the message: “Façam-nos sentir em casa,” which translates to “Make us feel at home.”
The post received 3.6 million likes in just nine hours and thousands of comments. Among the most popular reactions were: “Let’s go, we’re definitely winning,” “The King,” “Champion’s Focus,” and “Ronaldo will win the World Cup.”
A Match with Special Emotional Significance
Today’s match carries added emotional weight for the Portuguese national team. It is being played on the first anniversary of the death of former Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life in a car accident in Spain last year.
For that reason, the squad is expected to be especially motivated and to dedicate its performance to his memory as they continue their World Cup journey.
Ronaldo Chasing More Records
Cristiano Ronaldo has already made more history during the group stage. He made his 25th FIFA World Cup appearance, equaling the record of German legend Lothar Matthäus. Only Lionel Messi, with 29 World Cup appearances, stands ahead of him on the all-time list.
