Cristiano Ronaldo's Mother Backs Portugal Ahead of Crucial World Cup Match

Dolores Aveiro, mother of Cristiano Ronaldo, has publicly supported the Portuguese national team ahead of their critical World Cup match against Croatia. Sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram, she rallied fans as Portugal aims for victory. The match is particularly poignant, coinciding with the anniversary of the late Diogo Jota. Ronaldo, who has already made history in this tournament, hopes to inspire his team to success. With a place in the last 16 on the line, the stakes are high for both players and supporters alike.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 3, 2026, 05:07 IST

Support from Family as Portugal Prepares for Croatia Clash

Toronto [Canada], July 3: Dolores Aveiro, the mother of Cristiano Ronaldo, has expressed her unwavering support for the Portuguese national team as they gear up for a pivotal FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match against Croatia. She shared a touching message on Instagram, accompanied by a photo with her son, ahead of the must-win game at Toronto Stadium.

In her post, Dolores wrote, "Forca Portugal" ("Come on, Portugal"), rallying behind the five-time Ballon d'Or winner as he prepares to lead his team in one of the tournament's most significant encounters.

Dolores has been a steadfast presence throughout Portugal's World Cup journey, having attended their previous match against Colombia in the United States, which ended in a goalless draw.

Portugal faces a formidable challenge against a well-organized Croatian team led by the experienced Luka Modric, who is 40 years old. With a spot in the pre-quarterfinals on the line, Ronaldo and his teammates are eager to deliver their best performance after drawing two of their three group-stage matches.

This match holds special emotional weight for Portugal, as it coincides with the first anniversary of the tragic passing of former Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who lost his life in a road accident in Spain last year. Players and fans are expected to honor the late striker before the game.

Prior to the match, Ronaldo reached out to Portuguese supporters via social media, sharing a post with a handshake emoji and the national flag, urging them to "make us feel at home" in Toronto.

The veteran forward has already made history during this tournament. In the group-stage draw against Colombia, Ronaldo marked his 25th FIFA World Cup appearance, tying with German legend Lothar Matthaus for the second-most appearances in World Cup history. Only Argentina's Lionel Messi has played more matches, with 29.

Ronaldo further solidified his legacy in Portuguese football during a dominant victory over Uzbekistan, where he scored twice, contributing to a convincing win alongside goals from Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao, as well as an own goal from Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.

This brace brought Ronaldo's World Cup goal tally to 10, making him the all-time leading scorer for Portugal in World Cup history, surpassing the legendary Eusebio's previous record of nine. Pauleta remains third on the nation's all-time World Cup scoring list with four goals.

Additionally, Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, breaking a 10-match goal drought across both the World Cup and UEFA European Championship.

After overcoming a slow start to the tournament, Portugal is hopeful that their captain will once again lead them to victory against Croatia, with a place in the last 16 at stake.