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Cristiano Ronaldo described Portugal's victory over Croatia in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 as a "crazy game," and his heart rate data certainly backs that up.
The data comes from WHOOP, a wearable technology company that monitors and provides physiological data to enhance athlete performance. Ronaldo is both an investor and a global ambassador for the brand.
Ronaldo's first heart rate spike, as revealed by WHOOP, occurred as he prepared to take his penalty kick after Renato Veiga was fouled in the Croatian box (65'). Before the shot, his heart rate hit 144 bpm; after the ball found the net (68'), it surged to 157 bpm.
After being substituted for Rúben Neves (81'), Ronaldo's heart rate naturally decreased on the bench. However, it spiked again when Gonçalo Ramos perfectly connected with Rafael Leão's cross, scoring the winning goal in the 90+4th minute. At that moment, Ronaldo's heart rate registered 134 bpm.
The match didn't conclude until a quarter of an hour later, and at the final whistle, Ronaldo's heart rate reached another peak, similar to the one just before his penalty: 141 bpm.
"Goal number 976 for Ronaldo and the dream continues," the company, whose estimated value exceeded $10 billion last April, posted on social media, adding: "No heart beats quite like this."
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