Cristiano Ronaldo has been branded as shameless on social media after appearing to claim the opening goal during Portugal’s World Cup clash against Uruguay. After a cagey first half which saw Rodrigo Bentancur squander a huge chance to give Uruguay the lead, it was Ronaldo who made the headlines once again as he looked to have given Portugal the vital go-ahead go.
In the 54th minute, Bruno Fernandes whipped in a beauty of a cross, Ronaldo timed his run perfectly as he glanced it into the back of the net. Ronaldo sprinted away as he celebrates scoring once again after netting against Ghana from the penalty spot in the first round of matches.
Fans were not convinced on social media
However, there was confusion after the goal as the stadium announcer said the goal scorer was Fernandes instead of Ronaldo. That has got people wondering if Ronaldo actually touched the ball or not, fans were not convinced on social media.
One fan said: “It literally doesn’t even touch Ronaldo, that’s Bruno’s goal. He’s so shameless the way he runs off celebrating claiming it.”
Another tweeted: “Ronaldo aint touch that ball.”
A third fan added: “Bruh Ronaldo didn’t even touch that ball. He’s just trying to be ahead of Messi for total goals in the WC. That goal should have been for Bruno Fernandes. If anything it was Ronaldo’s hair that grazed the ball.”
Cristiano Ronaldo claims
Cristiano Ronaldo claims he got a faint touch with his head
to score Portugal’s opener in their win over Uruguay; Bruno Fernandes credited
with goal by FIFA; Adidas technology inside match ball proves Ronaldo did not
touch Manchester United midfielder’s cross
Fernandes was the one credited with the goal
Eventually, the decision was made and Fernandes was the one credited with the goal. The Manchester United star has now been involved in eight goals in his last five appearances, notching up five goals and three assists. All Ronaldo could do after hearing the announcement was give an awkward smile. Fortuitous for Fernandes. Unlucky for Ronaldo.
Fernandes, who also played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United before the latter’s controversial exit, played down his starring role in the victory.
“What’s important is we were able to go on to the next round and very important was the win against a tough opponent,” he said. “Our objective is to think match after match and we have to do our best because we obviously want to win all the matches.”
Portugal’s 2-0 win thanks to the Manchester United star’s brace means they have secured qualification to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
This truly is a World Cup of technology. And it was this technology that decided it was Bruno Fernandes and not Cristiano Ronaldo who scored Portugal’s opening goal against Uruguay on Monday night.
An Adidas statement read:
“Using the Connected Ball Technology housed in adidas’s Al Rihla Official Match Ball, we are able to definitively show no contact on the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal in the game. Ronaldo claimed he had got the faintest of touches with his head on Bruno Fernandes’ cross to give Portugal the lead as he celebrated jubilantly, but FIFA later awarded the goal to Fernandes.
The Manchester United midfielder, however, credited Ronaldo with the goal as he told reporters afterwards: “The feeling I had was that Cristiano touched the ball.”
Fernandes crossed the ball from the left side of the pitch and Ronaldo jumped the highest as the ball went into the goal. He celebrated wildly as the goal, had it stood, would have seen him level former Real Madrid with Eusebio as Portugal’s highest goal scorer at World Cups. He would also have surpassed Lionel Messi in their race for more World Cup goals.