2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown: Ronaldo's Iconic Hat Trick Against Spain

79 Days to Go: CR7 Scores One Of The Greatest Hat-Tricks in WC History

Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the best to ever kick a ball. In some people’s books, he even places further ahead than Lionel Messi, despite his lack of a World Cup trophy, and in some senses, the raw statistics back that up.

In the wake of the 2014 World Cup, where Messi and Argentina got all the way to the final, Ronaldo was heavily criticised for his lack of international success – though Messi may have lost the final, he won the award for the best player at the World Cup, and as soon as the Argentine was given the golden ball trophy, Ronaldo fell into his shadow – "Where is your international football accolade?" they would ask.

So two years later, Ronaldo led Portugal to their first major international titles at the European Championship, beating host nation France, who would also go on to be World Cup champions two years later, in the final. Ronaldo now had something Messi couldn’t dream of – an international trophy.

When Sir Alex Ferguson was waiting for Cristiano Ronaldo like a proud father after winning the 2016 EUROs pic.twitter.com/pMZnUUpmoc

— Former Footballers (@FinishedPlayers) March 12, 2026

However, the Portuguese legend was still cast into Messi’s shadow. The key reason now? Ronaldo had never brought his club performances to the international stage. Across 13 World Cup games prior to 2018, he had scored just three times and assisted twice – hardly the stats of a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

So, when the 2018 Russia World Cup came around, he went into it with an agenda – he was going to perform on the big stage, or die trying.

Tournament Buildup

During the qualification stage for the tournament, few could argue that Ronaldo was playing with vengeance on his mind – sick of being compared and belittled alongside Messi, the winger-turned-striker was playing with hunger, a desire to reach new highs.

Placed in qualifying Group B alongside Switzerland, Hungary, the Faroe Islands, Latvia and Andorra, Ronaldo was expected to perform well, with many of their opponents being mere minnows in comparison. However, few expected the sheer quality they got.

In 10 qualifying fixtures, Ronaldo found the net 15 times, a figure which included a four-goal haul against Andorra and a hat trick against the Faroe Islands. He also notched a further three assists, taking his total contributions to 18.

CR7’s excellent qualification campaign also coincided with a tremendous final season at Real Madrid, in which he scored 44 times in 44 games, lifted a fourth Champions League trophy with the club, and netted arguably the best goal seen that season with his bicycle kick finish against future club Juventus.

🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “It’s not about me scoring… I only want Portugal to win. If we win and I don't play, I'll sign it down”.

“I only focus on defending my country’s badge until I die, as always. I’d be happy if we win tomorrow and another teammate scores!”. pic.twitter.com/jE6hCKBGU9

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 22, 2025

Remarkably, that tally wasn’t enough to make him top scorer of the qualification phase, with Robert Lewandowski netting a jaw-dropping 16 goals.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo had shown his hand ahead of the World Cup – a man on fire for both club and country, he was not going to let another tournament pass him by without a meaningful contribution.

Drawn alongside Spain, Morocco and Iran in Group B, the stage was set for what was likely Ronaldo’s last World Cup campaign while operating at a world-class level.

“Absolute Genius!”

Naturally, Portugal were faced with their toughest opponents first, as Spain waited for them at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on the second day of the tournament. Champions in 2010, Spain had suffered a shock group stage exit in 2014, an exit which saw their credentials significantly downplayed ahead of the 2018 tournament.

However, Portugal could not afford to take them lightly – with the likes of Diego Costa, Sergio Ramos, David Silva, Andrés Iniesta and countless other household names, Fernando Hierro’s side could beat anyone if they caught them on the right day.

Mind you, Portugal’s squad wasn’t too bad either. Alongside Ronaldo, the Seleção das Quinas boasted a swollen squad containing players such as Pepe, Bruno Fernandes, João Moutinho and Bernardo Silva, a camp with more than enough quality to make a deep run at the tournament.

2018 World Cup - Portugal 3-3 Spain

C. Ronaldo 4', 44, 88’
Diego Costa 24', 55, Nacho 58' pic.twitter.com/iBMkqYwZl3

— My Greatest 11 (@MyGreatest11) June 8, 2025

However, it is clear from just a cursory glance that Ronaldo was the MVP of the squad, and in their opening game, it took less than four minutes for him to illustrate just that, as he drove into the box and, through the use of a couple of well-timed stepovers, drew a poorly timed challenge from Madrid teammate Nacho Fernandez, earning Portugal a penalty.

Who else was going to take it but the great man himself? Picking himself up off the floor, CR7 deceived David de Gea, sending him the wrong way and planting it in the bottom-right corner, giving Portugal what can only be described as a shock 1-0 lead.

Naturally, he celebrated with his iconic “SUI” celebration, which at the time was at the peak of its popularity – the volume and unison of the crowds mimicking it almost brought the stadium down and certainly shook the foundations.

Portugal’s lead didn’t last long, though. 20 minutes later, Diego Costa raced onto a long ball, and after twice faking to shoot at goal, he eventually did for real, slotting it into the bottom left and equalising for Spain.

The game’s frantic tempo only intensified and reached boiling point when a scorching Isco effort from distance crashed off the underside of the bar and onto the line, failing to cross it by mere inches. Portugal had been spared, and a few minutes later, they took full advantage of their lucky escape.

One minute before added time was due, a long ball was sent up, and Goncalo Guedes brought it down. Ronaldo, who was initially offside, got back into a legal position and struck Guedes’ tidy offload for the first time. It was a tame effort, and David de Gea needed only to bend down and field it.

However, the Spanish keeper misjudged it completely, and instead of gathering it, the ball ricocheted off his gloves and rolled into the back of the net, handing Portugal the lead completely against the run of play right before half time.

It was completely unexpected from the United stopper, who had had a fantastic season at Old Trafford, but Ronaldo's persistence has had a tendency to create its own luck throughout his career, and the goal to hand Portugal the lead once more embodied that quality perfectly.

It was as good a situation as Portugal could’ve hoped for, and for neutral fans, the game had lived up to every possible expectation – it was simply two heavyweights of international football going blow for blow in a fascinating contest. As for Ronaldo, he had already scored more goals at this tournament than at any previous edition of the World Cup.

Unfortunately for him, halftime saw the Spanish onslaught intensify, and 10 minutes after the break, Spain brought the game level again as Diego Costa nodded home from a well-worked set-piece routine.

Worse still, just three minutes later, Spain took the lead through first-half villain Nacho Fernandez, as with perfect technique he struck a bouncing ball from the edge of the box in off both posts, a goal that would be very similar to one scored later at the tournament by Benjamin Pavard.

Portugal now had it all to do – half an hour remained, and Spain still came at them, desperate to put the game out of reach. As time ticked on, they became more and more happy to disrupt the rhythm, willing to commit fouls and send the ball out of play as often as possible. Time was running out, and Portugal looked less and less likely to create anything as the game wore on. Spain were providing a masterclass in game management.

In the 88th minute, though, they gave away a foul in just the wrong place – with his back to goal just over 20 yards out, Ronaldo was chopped down, and Portugal were offered a golden opportunity to even things up once again.

It was once again no surprise that Ronaldo stood over it, in his iconic leg-locked pose, breathing deeply, and composing himself for what had the potential to be a game-deciding moment. He stepped up; he struck it and he, along with the rest of the world, waited.

🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown

Day 21/100: Ronaldo's Iconic Hat Trick vs Spain

By 2018, Ronaldo had achieved everything there was to achieve: La Liga titles, Champions Leagues, and even a European Championship.

But what he didn't have was a dominant showing at a World Cup,… pic.twitter.com/pz7oObOlHz

— Football Park (@FP_CentreCircle) March 25, 2026

It soared towards the goal, up and over the wall despite the best attempt of Sergio Busquets, and soared towards the top corner. De Gea never stood a chance and stood rooted to the spot as Ronaldo’s free kick dipped into the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations and raucous noise.

The accompanying commentary was simple, yet perfect. “OHHH GENIUS. ABSOLUTE GENIUS.” A call entirely befitting of the player, and the point that his marvellous free kicks rescued would turn out to be vital, as they only escaped the group ahead of Iran by a single point.

However, Ronaldo’s individual brilliance could take them so far, and when they met an Edinson Cavani-inspired Uruguay in the last 16, it proved a bridge too far – falling to a 2-1 defeat to the South Americans. Ronaldo was once again left wanting on the international stage.

🚨Portugal 2026 Home Kit.

🔜| Confirmed❗️

World Cup 2026. We'll be there. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/lObKM5wWZD

— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) March 23, 2026

However, with four goals to his name at the tournament (he scored against Morocco in the second group game), the great attacker had at least brought one long-lasting discussion to an end, and that was the argument that he couldn’t perform on the World Cup stage.

With a World Cup match ball, as well as one of the most iconic in the tournament's history, we beg to differ.