Ronaldo, after his goal saying 'Bismillah': 'Whenever I say it, I score'

Played within the scope of the 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası qualifiers and followed with great interest by football enthusiasts, the Portekiz vs Hırvatistan match was talked about more for a gesture displayed by the famous star Cristiano Ronaldo than the struggle on the field. Before the penalty kick, which was one of the key moments of the match, the word “Bismillah” was clearly seen circulating on the lips of the Portuguese star. While this moment was closely followed by the spectators in the stadium and millions of viewers in front of the screen, Ronaldo's calm and focused attitude as he approached the ball did not escape attention. These images, which quickly became a trend on social media platforms, resonated widely among football fans and gave rise to various discussions. Hürriyet newspaper columnist Koray Durkal examined the situation in question and the details behind this gesture in his article on the subject. Ronaldo’s move was evaluated not only as a sporting success but also as a meaningful moment in terms of the reflection of faith and motivation in sports.

The penalty kick, which was of great importance for the course of the match, became a turning point for Portekiz to regain morale despite their team falling behind. Ronaldo managed the pressure he experienced when he went to the ball with his usual professional attitude and managed to turn his shot into a goal. After the goal, in some frames circulating on social media, it was claimed that Ronaldo used the expression “Ne zaman dese atıyorum” and that he believed this ritual brought him luck. This situation was shown as an example of the mental preparation techniques that Ronaldo, one of the world's greatest footballers, has constantly developed throughout his career. Despite the Hırvatistan defense appearing strong, the experienced forward's composure at this critical moment enabled his team to equalize the score and maintain his active role in the match. This moment of the match once again revealed the importance of psychological and spiritual preparedness concepts in sports.

While Cristiano Ronaldo’s behavior on and off the field is always followed with great interest, his scoring a goal by saying “Bismillah” was welcomed with special interest and pride by Muslim football fans. MARCA, a Spanish media outlet, also covered this event, and it found wide coverage in the international media with headlines such as “Ronaldo’s greeting to Muslims” or “Bismillah goal”. Considering Ronaldo plays for a club in Arap and his popularity in this geography, the gesture is also evaluated as a likely effect of building a cultural bridge. On social media, thousands of users shared these images and expressed their respect and love for Ronaldo; some users argued that this move was a gesture of respect to Islam. It was among the comments that it constituted a concrete example of how football transcends borders and establishes dialogue between different cultures and beliefs.

Another point highlighted in the details of the article and news is the routines Ronaldo adopted throughout his career and the positive effects of beliefs on him. It is known that similar spiritual and focus techniques were applied in the national team during the time of Technical Director Fernando Santos, but the share of Ronaldo's personal faith and will in him being one of the top scorers of this relatively watery sphere cannot be denied. As also mentioned in Koray Durkal’s article, saying “Bismillah” is not just a word, but also an intention to add mercy and abundance to the work he does. The transformation of this intention into a successful result (a goal) on the field is a striking example of how an athlete's inner world affects their outer performance. Given the stress experienced in penalty shots, reminiscent of the psychological pressures we saw at Euro 2020 in the previous tournament in İngiltere, it was commented that Ronaldo used this faith as a kind of shelter and developed an antidote against stress. This deep focus has matured him knowingly even inside the red lines.

In summary, this match played between Portekiz and Hırvatistan and part of the 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası qualifiers found a place in memories with Ronaldo's spiritual stance rather than its results. Ronaldo, who continues to wear the jersey despite turning 39 and preserving his physical and mental abilities, made the headlines with the word “Bismillah” just before the goal rather than the goal itself. This event was extremely instructive in showing that football is not just a 90-minute game, but also a reflection of athletes' life philosophies, beliefs, and personal rituals on the field. The details conveyed by Koray Durkal and the intense reaction of social media to this event proved how much room spiritual values and tolerance hold in sports. Ronaldo’s expression “Ne zaman dese atıyorum” is meaningful in terms of showing his self-confidence and how strong this spiritual bond is. The Portekiz Futbol Federasyonu and fans state that such symbolic moments further increase the sense of belonging and love for the team. This event has a quality that will keep the agenda busy for a long time on the role of philosophy and faith in sports.