A video clip circulating online has fans believing Cristiano Ronaldo muttering “Bismillah” twice just before he stepped up to take a crucial penalty in Portugal’s Round of 32 clash against Croatia.
The moment has sparked heavy discussion on social media, though what exactly he said remains unconfirmed.
Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 at Toronto’s BMO Field on Thursday to book a spot in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Croatia broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perisic finished off a cross from Josip Stanisic, sending the ball under Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Portugal levelled in the 68th minute after Nikola Vlasic fouled Renato Veiga inside the box. Referee Espen Eskas was called to the pitch-side monitor and pointed to the spot.
Ronaldo picked up the ball, kissed it, and walked to the spot. Cameras caught his lips moving just before he struck the ball into the middle of the goal, sending Livakovic the wrong way. The brief clip caught fan attention with many claiming the 41-year-old said “Bismillah (In the name of Allah),” a phrase commonly recited by Muslims before an important task.
Reactions poured in quickly. One user shared a separate clip and wrote, “He said it also before his freekick.”
Another commented, “I think he does recite that dua (Bismillah).” A third wrote, “Alhamdulilah yes he indeed did say Bismillāh!” while others simply responded, “Yes, he did,” and, “I noticed and screamed at the TV! ALHUMDULILLAH.”
We haven’t independently verified the audio ourselves, and Ronaldo hasn’t commented on it. But the clip has been widely shared and reported on by multiple outlets.
It’s also not the first time the claim has come up. Ronaldo was caught in a similar moment in April this year during a Saudi Pro League match for Al-Nassr against Al-Najma, right before converting another penalty.
Since his move to Saudi Arabia, cameras have repeatedly picked him up mouthing something before free kicks and other set pieces, and fans there have come to recognise it as part of his pre-kick routine, even if what he’s actually saying has never been officially confirmed.
The equaliser mattered beyond the moment itself. It was Ronaldo’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match, after 25 previous World Cup appearances and 10 goals, all of which had come in the group stage. He also became the oldest player in tournament history to score in the knockout rounds and the oldest to feature in a knockout match at all, at 41 years and 147 days old.
Roberto Martinez withdrew Ronaldo in the 81st minute for Ruben Neves. Portugal then snatched the win deep into stoppage time when Goncalo Ramos rose to head home a cross from Rafael Leao in the 94th minute.
Croatia thought they had a way back when Josko Gvardiol turned the ball in during the closing stages, but the goal was overturned after a lengthy VAR check. The review used data from a motion sensor embedded in the Adidas Trionda, the official World Cup ball, which confirmed that Croatia’s Igor Matanovic had touched the ball with a flick of his head moments before it reached Mario Pasalic, putting Pasalic in an offside position when the move started.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said afterward that he did not want to blame officiating for the loss, though he called the overall refereeing “very poor.”
The match also fell on the first anniversary of the death of former Portugal international Diogo Jota, who died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident in Spain on July 3, 2025. After the final whistle, Ronaldo picked up Jota’s number 21 Portugal jersey and put it on, visibly emotional as his teammates gathered around him.
Portugal now moves on to face Spain in Dallas on Monday in the Round of 16. This World Cup is widely expected to be Ronaldo’s last appearance for the national team.
