Is Ronaldo Starting Today? Confirmed Portugal Starting XI vs. Croatia

Cristiano Ronaldo Starting Today vs. Croatia

Updated: Thursday, July 2 – 5:45 p.m. ET

Despite earlier rumors that Ronaldo would be out of the Portugal lineup, Ronaldo will start as Portugal's striker vs. Croatia atop a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The start makes Ronaldo the oldest player to ever play in a FIFA World Cup knockout match at 41 years old — and the only one to play at that age. Underneath Ronaldo in the formation, Bruno Fernandes will again serve as the centerpiece of the Portugal offense.

The only change in the lineup from the Colombia game is on the left wing, where Rafael Leāo will replace Joao Félix.

Confirmed Portugal Starting XI vs. Croatia

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Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start today vs. Croatia in what will be his ninth World Cup knockout game for Portugal. The UEFA Nations League winners finished as Group K runners-up, setting them up for a Round of 32 matchup against Group L runners-up, Croatia.

The Al-Nassr striker scored 2 goals during the group stage, both against Uzbekistan on Matchday 2. He is averaging a team-high 4.3 shots per game and has missed 3 big chances in his three appearances. 

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Let's break down if Ronaldo is starting in the World Cup for Portugal vs. Croatia, what his role may be, and the best Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup picks and projections for PrizePicks.

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Is Ronaldo Playing Today in the World Cup Round of 32 vs. Croatia? 

Cristiano Ronaldo has played the entire 90 minutes in all three of Portugal’s group stage matches leading up to the Round of 32. The 41-year-old will continue to get the nod from manager Roberto Martínez, who has stuck by his decision to continue starting the country’s all-time leading scorer despite some attacking woes to begin the tournament. Ronaldo is the only Portuguese player to have not been rotated once during the 2026 World Cup.

Martínez commented on Ronaldo following Portugal’s final game of the group stage, stating, “We [Portugal] may need to make changes in the next match…” Even so, Portugal’s No. 7 has retained his spot on the starting XI, but it remains to be seen whether he will play the full game.

Projected Portugal Lineup vs. Croatia

The projected lineup for Portugal vs. Croatia puts Ronaldo at the top of the formation.

Predicted Portugal XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Dalot, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Neto, Fernandes, Félix; Ronaldo 

Find our full Portugal vs. Croatia prediction and lineups HERE

Portugal is favored with a 1.35x payout to advance in tonight’s match vs. Croatia, with each team hoping to advance to the Round of 16. The two European sides have never met at a World Cup and last played at the UEFA Nations League in 2024.

Will Ronaldo Break the World Cup Knockout Curse?

Ronaldo will be playing in his ninth World Cup knockout stage game later today, having failed to score in all eight previous matches. His 2 goals on Matchday 2 made him the first player to score in six different World Cups, with all 10 of his goals in the competition coming in the group stage.

In such an evenly matched game like tonight’s, Portugal’s all-time leading scorer could make the difference for his team while finding the back of the net this late into the competition for the first time.

Portugal and Ronaldo have struggled in attack in two of their three matches leading up to the Round of 32. Five of Portugal’s 6 goals scored came against Uzbekistan, with Martínez’s squad scoring 1 goal after generating just 1.58 xG combined in the other two matches.

CR7 is no stranger to scoring in big moments in other competitions, including most recently during Portugal’s Nations League-winning campaign. The 41-year-old scored 1 goal in each round of the knockout stage, including the equalizer in the Nations League Final.

Ronaldo came into the World Cup following a 28-goal season for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and will now look to find that form once again in a critical part of the tournament.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Pick, World Cup Stats to Target vs. Croatia

Whether you think Ronaldo bounces back vs. Croatia or fumbles the bag again, you can back your takes on PrizePicks. Just pick More or Less on Ronaldo’s projected stats — listed below — and cash in if you’re right.

PrizePicks is offering a 2.5 shots discount for Ronaldo today — down from 4 shots — on the board as part of the Rep Your Side Sweepstakes, where you can win a trip for 2 to the WC Final.

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• 2.5 Shots (Discounted)
• 4 Shots (Standard)
• 20.5 Passes Attempted
• 1.5 Shots on Target
• 0.5 Attempted Dribbles
• 14.5 Fantasy Score
• 1.5 Tackles (Demon)
• 0.5 Goals (Demon)
• 0.5 Assists (Demon)
• 1.5 Goal + Assist (Demon)
• 1.5 Fouls (Demon)
• 1.5 Fouls Drawn (Demon)
• 0.5 Cards (Demon)
• 1.5 Offsides (Demon)

Cristiano Ronaldo – 2.5 Shots (Discount)

• Ronaldo ranks in the top 10 of all players at the 2026 World Cup with 4.3 shots per game. Portugal’s lead man has taken at least 3 shots in all three games Portugal has played so far.
• The 41-year-old led the Saudi Pro League in shots per game this past season, taking 5.4 per contest. He is averaging 4.6 shots per game in his last 26 appearances for Portugal.
• Ronaldo is accounting for nearly 35% of Portugal’s shots at the 2026 World Cup. The rest of the squad accounts for 8 shots per game combined.

Portugal ST Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Croatia

Cristiano Ronaldo Projections via PrizePicks: 0.5 Goals (Demon), 1.5 Shots on Target

• Ronaldo will have the opportunity to end the World Cup knockout goal drought against a Croatia side that struggled defensively during the group stage. Ronaldo has scored 2 goals in his career versus Croatia.
• Croatia struggled in its opening match against English ST Harry Kane, who plays in many of the same positions as Ronaldo. Kane scored 2 goals against Croatia on Matchday 1.
• Ronaldo leads Portugal in xG (2.19), slightly underperforming on his expected goals by 0.19. He has missed the most big chances on the squad (3) while leading the team with 2.0 shots on target per match through three games.

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Make Ronaldo World Cup Round of 32 Picks Now!

Ronaldo will have a chance to silence the doubters and help his team advance to the Round of 16 later tonight vs. Croatia. Will the Portuguese legend bounce back from a mediocre group stage with his first-ever World Cup knockout goal?

Whether you’re claiming the Cristiano Ronaldo Discount, claiming your $50 bonus using promo code PLAYBOOKFC, aiming to win those Final tickets in the Rep Your Side Sweepstakes, or stacking your World Cup picks, PrizePicks is where to run your World Cup takes from the opening whistle through the Final.

Open the PrizePicks app, head to the World Cup board, and make your Portugal vs. Croatia picks before kickoff. 

Keep it locked on PrizePicks Playbook all tournament for World Cup predictions, picks, news, and analysis for every game, every day of the World Cup.