Cristiano Ronaldo looking to end record World Cup knockout drought

Cristiano Ronaldo will be bidding to end a record World Cup knockout drought when Portugal take on Switzerland in the last-16 stage of the 2022 competition on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old has scored once at this year's tournament, finding the back of the net from the penalty spot in the 3-2 victory over Ghana on November 24.

Ronaldo has now struck eight times in 20 appearances at the World Cup, with all eight of his goals coming in the group stage of the competition, which is the joint-most by any player in the tournament's history without ever registering in the knockout rounds.

The free agent has not found the back of the net in six knockout appearances for Portugal at the World Cup despite having 25 goal attempts in total.

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Ronaldo claimed that he had scored against Uruguay in Portugal's second match at this year's competition, but the effort was eventually awarded to Bruno Fernandes.

The striker's performances are under the microscope following his recent attack on Manchester United, which led to the 20-time English champions terminating his contract.

Ronaldo is therefore currently a free agent, with the Portuguese seeking a new club after the 2022 World Cup.

There is believed to be firm interest from Saudi Arabia, but the forward's close friend Piers Morgan recently said that Ronaldo is looking to move to a Champions League club.

The striker has been substituted in all three of Portugal's matches at the World Cup, with Fernando Santos's side qualifying for the round of 16 despite losing their last game to South Korea.

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Miroslav Klose is the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup, having found the back of the net on 16 occasions in the finals of the international competition.

Brazil's legendary centre-forward Ronaldo is second with 15, while Gerd Muller (14), Just Fontaine (13) and Pele (12) make up the top five positions.

Ronaldo is one of seven players to be on eight goals in the competition, including Rivaldo and Diego Maradona, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe on nine goals.

Portugal have never won the World Cup, with their best performance in the tournament coming back in 1966, when they finished in third position.

On Tuesday, A Selecao will be bidding to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 2006.