Cristiano Ronaldo made history in the first game in Qatar by becoming the first footballer capable of scoring in five different World Cups. The records of the Portuguese star are well known, also in the national team. But sometimes football also plays tricks on him, as happened in the game against South Korea.
Portugal, with six points in the first two days, was already classified but needed to score points against the Asian team to ensure first place in group H. A misfortune by Cristiano put stones in the way for Fernando Santos’ men when in the 27th minute Kim Young-Gwon scored the equalizer due to an inadvertent mistake by Ronaldo.
A corner kick against Portugal was not cleared by any Portuguese footballer. Neither Rúben Neves nor Dalot, despite trying to get the ball out of the head area, came into contact with the ball. Cristiano, without expecting it and with his back half turned, saw how the ball hit him on the hump and inadvertently left the ball dead for the South Korean defender to shoot Diogo Costa. An assist from espaldinha but in their own area.
The blunder had no consequences since the team led by Fernando Santos had advanced on the scoreboard as soon as the game began at the Education City stadium thanks to a goal from Ricardo Horta. A Korean goal in discount turned the score around, qualified the Asians but did not alter the Portuguese lead.
Cristiano wanted to make up for the mistake soon and was about to score one on one, although the action was annulled moments later for offside. The former Manchester United player, currently without a team, has been chasing another goal since the first day that will allow him to equal Eusébio as the Portuguese with the most goals in World Cup history.
He could not find the key on the second day against Uruguay, although he claimed a goal as his own after a cross from Bruno Fernandes. The ball sensor confirmed that he did not touch the ball, but the attacker with a white past was shouting to heaven even after the final whistle, assuring that the goal was his. The networks were flooded with memes mocking Ronaldo’s reaction. “He was the bangs of God,” ironized some tweets.
Thinking about the qualifying rounds and with the score at 1-1, Santos decided to make a triple substitution in the 65th minute. Cristiano was one of those chosen and left visibly upset. He will have to wait for the next game to catch Eusébio. Meanwhile, the striker is still without a team. After the World Cup appointment he will reveal his future. Many reports indicate that the destination will be very close to Qatar: Saudi Arabia.
Al Nasr would follow in his footsteps. There is talk of astronomical figures for a 37-year-old player. In the summer, a dizzying offer of 250 million euros came from Arabia for a two-year contract.
