Cristiano Ronaldo met with 'MESSI!' chants in the stands after missing big chance vs South Korea

Cristiano Ronaldo was trolled with chants for Lionel Messi from the stands after missing a chance against South Korea.

Portugal surrendered one goal against South Korea in their final group game, where Hwang Hee-chan scored a dramatic 91st minute winner that sent his country through to the knockouts.

Having tried to claim he got a touch on Bruno Fernandes' cross against Uruguay, Ronaldo went a second game without scoring despite having a few chances in front of goal.

One came when the ball rebounded to him from a long-range strike but he could only head wide. Ronaldo was on his knees on the pitch and met with 'loud 'MESSI!' taunts from those behind the goal.

Ronaldo has been subjected to those chants before - ironically in Korea when he didn't play in a friendly where 65,000 fans had turned up.

Once before, he encouraged fans to keep chanting ahead of a game between Portugal and Albania.

Something tell us the 37-year-old won't have been best pleased on Friday, however.

Although Portugal qualified for the knockout stages as group winners, he was visibly angry after being substituted in the 65th minute.

There was talk that he had a disagreement with manager Fernando Santos but Ronaldo says he was involved in a heated exchange with South Korea's hotshot striker Cho Gue-sung, who had hurried him off the pitch.

Image: Alamy

“What happened was before my substitution, the South Korea player told me to get off quickly, Ronaldo told Portuguese reporters, as per ESPN.I told him to shut up as he doesn’t have that authority. There was no disagreement (with the coach).

Santos also offered the same explanation for why Ronaldo looked furious.

"The player from Korea was insulting him telling him to go away, so that is the reason why he was angry, everyone saw that," Santos stated.

"I saw the interaction with the Korea player and I don't have any doubts about it and if you see the images you see Pepe went towards the Korea player."

Portugal take on Switzerland in the last 16 on Tuesday, where Ronaldo will be looking to equal Eusebio's World Cup goals tally of nine.

Topics: South Korea, Football World Cup, Portugal, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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