Хорватын шигшээ багийн хагас хамгаалагч Мартин Батурина 2026 оны ДАШТ-ий шөвгийн 32-ын шатанд Португалийн эсрэг тоглохын өмнө Криштиану Роналдуг өөрийн шүтээн хэмээн тодотголоо. Тэрээр хүүхэд байхдаа Роналдуг дагаж өссөн ч одоогийн байдлаар Лионель Мессиг дэлхийн хамгийн шилдэг хөлбөмбөгчин гэж үзэж буйгаа илэрхийлсэн юм.
Португалийн ахлагч Роналду тэмцээний туршид хоёр гоол оруулсан бол түүний өрсөлдөгч Месси 19 гоолтойгоор мэргэн буучдыг тэргүүлж байна. Батуринагийн хувьд ДАШТ-ий эхний тойрогт Английн хаалганд алсаас гоол оруулж, гараагаа амжилттай эхлүүлсэн бөгөөд Комо клубийн бүрэлдэхүүнд тоглодог залуу тоглогч юм.
Хорват, Португалийн шигшээ багуудын тулаан Торонто хотноо долдугаар сарын 3-нд 00:00 цагт эхэлнэ. Батурина Португалийн тоглолтыг сайтар судалсан бөгөөд тэдний бөмбөг эзэмшилт, довтолгооны эсрэг тэвчээртэй тоглож, гаргасан боломжийг ашиглах төлөвлөгөөтэй байгаагаа онцоллоо.
Энэхүү тоглолтын ялагч нь долдугаар сарын 6-нд Даллас хотноо болох шөвгийн 16-ын шатанд Испани эсвэл Австрийн шигшээ багтай тулна. ДАШТ-ий энэ шатны тоглолтууд бүх багийн хувьд сэтгэл зүйн хувьд өндөр ачаалалтай байгааг тоглогчид хүлээн зөвшөөрч байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
One of the players hoping to knock Cristiano Ronaldo out of the World Cup has called the Portugal captain his “idol” but said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is “not the best footballer”.
Martin Baturina has started all three of his country’s matches at the finals and is preparing to face the Selecao in the last 32 on Friday, when Ronaldo will aim to add to his two goals at the tournament – three behind top scorer and generational rival Lionel Messi.
“As children, we made that choice,” Baturina said, comparing Messi and Ronaldo (via Sportske Novosti).
“Now you appreciate both of them, everything they’ve done. Ronaldo can score from nothing. If we defend [well against] him, it will be easier. It’s an honour to play against him.”
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: World Cup 2026
Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in football but is yet to win the World Cup, with Argentina’s Messi winning the title for the first time at the previous tournament in 2022.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has smashed the record for the most World Cup goals with his blistering start to the 2026 edition, taking his total to 19 and moving nine ahead of Ronaldo, who faced particularly intense scrutiny before scoring both of his goals this time around on matchday two against Uzbekistan.
“Ronaldo is my idol,” said 23-year-old Baturina, who plays for Italian side Como and marked his full debut at a major tournament with a long-range goal against England on matchday one.
“He’s not the best footballer – now we’ve seen that it’s Messi – but, for me, he was always the one whose videos I watched and he’s very good.
“They’re equally dear to me; you can learn something from one, something from the other.”
Portugal vs Croatia: ‘The World Cup is tough’
Baturina faced Ronaldo in the Nations League in 2024, when Croatia lost 2-1 away and drew 1-1 at home and Portugal’s captain scored in the game in Lisbon.
The meeting in Split was the only time Portugal have failed to win in the six competitive meetings between the countries.
“They have really good players and it’s not easy,” said Baturina, who is considered by some to be legendary playmaker Luka Modric’s successor for Croatia.
“You have to be 100 percent concentrated and ready, not giving anything away. We have quality and we can play against them.
“This is the World Cup – it’s tough against everyone, and mentally it’s the same for them and us. Last time [we played Portugal], I tried pressing at Vitinha and it was very difficult, but we have to do it.
“We’ve analysed them and will determine a plan. They will have more possession because they are good [at that, but] we have to be patient and, if they give us a chance, score a goal.”
World Cup 2026: When is Portugal vs Croatia?
The teams play in Toronto on Friday, July 3 at 00:00 BST, which is 19:00 on Thursday ET or 16:00 on Thursday PT.
The winners will face Spain or Austria, who meet in Los Angeles at 20:00 BST on Thursday, in a last-16 match in Dallas on July 6.
Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup schedule
Here’s the full confirmed and potential schedule for Ronaldo and Portugal at the World Cup 2026, including how to watch in the UK.
| Date | Match | Result | Stage | Time (BST) | ET | PT | Channel |
| June 17 | DR Congo | 1-1 | Group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | BBC |
| June 23 | Uzbekistan | 5-0 | Group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | ITV |
| June 28 | Colombia | 0-0 | Group | 00:30 | 19:30 | 16:30 | BBC |
| July 3 | Croatia | Round of 32 | 00:00 | 19:00* | 16:00* | BBC | |
| July 6 | TBC | Round of 16 | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | TBC | |
| July 10 | TBC | Quarter-finals | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | TBC | |
| July 14 | TBC | Semi-finals | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | TBC | |
| July 18 | TBC | Third-placed match | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | TBC | |
| July 19 | TBC | Final | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | BBC, ITV |
