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Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has urged Ireland fans to boo him when Portugal take the field in Thursdayâ€s World Cup qualifier in Dublin. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the 40-year-old said he hoped the home supporters†focus on him might ease the pressure on his teammates as Portugal look to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. “The stadium will boo me, Iâ€m used to it, I certainly hope they do — maybe it will take the pressure off other players,†Ronaldo told reporters in Dublin. Portugal sit five points clear at the top of Group F with two games left, and a win over Ireland would seal their spot in next yearâ€s World Cup. Ronaldo, who is aiming to feature in his sixth edition of the tournament, said he expects a tough contest against an Irish side that will likely defend deep. “It will be a difficult match,†he said. “Ireland will sit back and make it hard for us to find space.†The Al Nassr forward was also asked about the possibility of scoring his 1000th career goal in the World Cup final, which he dismissed with a laugh. “Youâ€ve been watching too many movies, that would be too perfect,†Ronaldo joked. “Itâ€s always good to score goals — thatâ€s my job. I want to play in this next World Cup, otherwise I wouldnâ€t be here, but letâ€s take it step by step.†Ronaldo has scored 953 career goals and holds the record for the most goals in menâ€s international football with 143. While he hinted earlier this week that the 2026 World Cup could be his last, Ronaldo chose not to dwell on his future this time. “Thereâ€s no point in being repetitive and losing focus,†he said. “Maybe later Iâ€ll speak more clearly about what I think for the future, but right now, the goal is qualification.â€

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On Wednesday at the 2025 Ryder Cup, fans at Bethpage Black witnessed a rarity: the Opening Ceremony, one day early. Forecasted thunderstorms forced organizers to move the festivities from their traditional spot on Thursday, on the eve of the first matches, to Wednesday.

The schedule change also meant that the announcement of Friday’s player pairings and matchups was not included in the proceedings, as it usually is. But another tradition was broken, too. Amid his Opening Ceremony speech on Wednesday, European Luke Donald took a couple of subtle digs at the U.S. players.

And his comments did not come in a vacuum. They followed a campaign Donald and the European team have enacted to try and rattle the American Ryder Cup team over money. More specifically, the fact that U.S. players are getting paid this year, and the European pros are not.

Here’s what you need to know.

Ryder Cup player pay controversy from 2023-2025

The origin of Ryder Cup money controversy dates back to the biggest controversy from the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

There, a European journalist reported that American player Patrick Cantlay refused to wear a U.S. team hat in protest for not being paid to play the Ryder Cup. The accusations touched other American players too, though Cantlay strongly denied them.

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The controversy, known as HatGate, extended to the course, where fans taunted Cantlay and the American team in Rome, and Cantlay responded by waving an imaginary hat after making putts or winning holes.

Things got serious in one Saturday match featuring Cantlay and Rory McIlroy, where Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava waved his hat on the green in McIlroy’s vicinity, resulting in a shouting match between the teams.

The scuffle spilled into press conferences and into the parking lot.

Then late last year, when the PGA of America announced U.S. Ryder Cup players would receive $300,000 for charities of their choosing plus a $200,000 stipend to use however they wish, European players jumped on it. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry made comments on the topic soon after, with McIlroy saying he would “pay for the privilege to play” the Ryder Cup.

Donald has kept the theme alive throughout the past year in various interviews. This week has been no different.

For example, in a Monday interview with Sky Sports, Donald brought the topic up again as if for the first time.

“This came up and I wanted to get ahead of it. I talked to the 12 guys in Rome when it looked like the U.S. were going to do something different with payments and, you know, every one of them was just like, ‘We don’t want to — this isn’t a week to get paid,’” Donald said.

Then came his Opening Ceremony speech.

Donald throws shade at American Ryder Cup pros in Opening Ceremony

Traditionally, captains’ speeches at the Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony are all about sportsmanship, thank yous and a little bit of team boosting.

Donald’s speech certainly hit on all those points. It was in no way a broadside against the U.S. team.

Take his kind words about U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, for example.

“To Keegan, Jillian and your two boys, Logan and Cooper, Diane and I have really valued our friendship over the years, and we know that bond will last well beyond this week no matter the outcome. It’s been a pleasure to share this Ryder Cup captaincy with you. Thank you for your friendship and all the memories along the way.”

Or these comments about the U.S. team.

“To the 12 players of Team USA, your talent and passion are never in doubt. We know you’ll bring your best. We promise to do the same.”

But Donald’s speech also featured thinly-veiled digs at the American players over the money issue.

“We come to you this week not just as individual players from nine different nations but as one team, a team defined by history, by unity and by belief that we are playing for something far greater than ourselves,” Donald began, laying the seeds for his slight at the U.S. players. “The Ryder Cup means so much to each and every one of us. It is unlike anything else in our sport.”

When he brought up the topic of money for the first time, he did so by arguing that the European Ryder Cup players are too noble to play the Ryder Cup for money.

“It is not about prize money or world ranking points,” Donald said. “It’s about pride. It’s about representing your flag, your shirts, and the legacy you leave behind.”

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Kevin Cunningham

He then continued to list the things that his European team plays for other than money.

“We play for our families, our teammates, our countries, our continent, and for the generations before us who made this event what it is today.”

The question many American fans, and perhaps players, were asking themselves at this point in the speech was this: Is he suggesting that the U.S. Ryder Cup players don’t play for their families, country and flag, but play only for money?

Donald provided that answer when, later in his speech, he brought up the topic of player pay again.

“We are fueled by something money cannot buy: Purpose, brotherhood, and a responsibility to honor those who came before us, while inspiring those whose time is yet to come,” Donald said.

It’s important to note that several former European Ryder Cup stars knowingly threatened their future involvement in the event by taking large sums of money to join LIV Golf, among them Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. In fact, the original captain for the 2023 European Ryder Cup team was Henrik Stenson, but Stenson was removed from the position after joining LIV himself. Donald was his replacement.

Additionally, the $300,000 stipend American players will receive this year, which some have already said they will give to charity, is an insignificant amount compared to the many millions each player earned on the course this season.

At this point, captain Donald and the European’s strategy to paint the American Ryder Cup players as caring only about money and not winning is clear. What isn’t obvious is why they think this is a sound strategy.

Whether it’s the Ryder Cup or a playoff series in other professional sports, teams’ regularly draw inspiration from opponents’ critiques. Usually, the goal is to not provide the other team with any “bulletin-board material” that might fire them up.

We’ll have to wait to see which team ends up benefitting from the Ryder Cup player-pay controversy when the first matches tee off Friday morning.