Ronaldo’s 2025 Penalty Run: Misses, Masterclass Moments, and a Last-Gasp Neves Hammer
12 October 2025
Ronaldo’s penalty miss highlights a busy 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal captain, endured yet another penalty miss in 2025 when his spot-kick was superbly saved by Ireland’s goalkeeper during the European World Cup qualifying clash. The miss came in the 75th minute, a moment that briefly shifted the balance of a tightly contested match. In the end, Portugal still secured the points thanks to a late heroics, but the miss dominated conversations after the final whistle.
Although Ronaldo’s penalty was saved, his 2025 campaign has been marked by a mix of clinical finishes and unfortunate misfires. The year has seen him step up for both his club and country, with a level of consistency that remains extraordinary even when a few kicks don’t hit the target. The debate shifted from individual error to the broader context of a team striving for a consistent title challenge.
According to Transfermarkt, Ronaldo has missed 9 penalties while wearing the Portugal shirt, bringing his international total to 10 misses in a career spanning more than two centuries of attempts across clubs and the national team. His overall tally stands at 177 goals from 211 penalty attempts, a ratio that places him among the legends of penalty-taking, even as a few recent misses draw extra attention.
Even with misses, Ronaldo’s status remains that of a benchmark for penalty specialists. His 2025 record includes 11 penalties taken across competitions, with 8 converted and 3 missed, a stat tracked by SofaScore that underscores the accuracy that defined much of his career, alongside the occasional hiccup that fuels debate among fans and pundits alike.
Neves’s late moment and the broader message from Portugal
Portugal’s match narrative shifted late as Ruben Neves rose to the occasion, heading home a cross in stoppage time to clinch a 1-0 victory. The decisive moment capped a difficult outing for Ronaldo but reinforced the idea that the team’s success is built on collective resolve rather than a single moment of brilliance alone.
Coach Roberto Martínez spoke after the game about the importance of unity and balance within the squad, emphasizing that Ronaldo remains a leader both on and off the pitch. He noted that the group’s stubbornness to stay composed until the final whistle was a hallmark of the current generation and a key reason why the side remains in the hunt for a World Cup ticket.
In the analysis that followed, it was highlighted how Portugal managed to convert opportunities at the right times while maintaining defensive discipline. Neves’s winning strike, combined with a resilient effort at the back, showcased a team that understands the value of patience when facing determined opposition.
Portugal’s campaign now continues with a midweek test against Scotland, a fixture that will provide another chance for the Dºon and his teammates to press their claim for early qualification. The mood in the camp remains one of focus and belief that the best football is still ahead, even as Costa’s and Neves’s late heroics remind fans that discipline, grit, and timing can still carry the day.
As Ronaldo navigates the fine line between world-class efficiency and occasional misfortune, the broader message from the coaching staff and players alike is that the path to 2026 is a team pursuit—one that demands both individual precision and collective determination. The next few fixtures will be telling for whether Portugal can translate promise into a secure place among the world’s football elite.
