
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to score in five consecutive World Cups, adding another impressive record to his collection.
Ronaldo, having recently had his Manchester United contract terminated, led Portugal out in their World Cup opener against Ghana.
The Portugal captain had a goal disallowed in the first half but then in the 65th minute, he won a controversial penalty after going down under a challenge from a Ghana defender.
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Ronaldo stepped up and smashed the penalty past Lawrence Ati-Zigi, before wheeling away and bringing back his SIUU celebration.
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player to score in FIVE consecutive World Cups! ๐๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/h7YMmDHjhn
โ SPORTbible (@sportbible) November 24, 2022
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฌ!
โ ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 24, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo setting more records ๐#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/sEk69kUNP9
Ronaldo's first World Cup goal, also a penalty, came some 16 years ago against Iran at the 2006 showpiece in Germany and he is still finding the net all these years later at the age of 37.
Ghana proved to be tricky opponents for Fernando Santos' men though and levelled matters in the 73rd minute through former Swansea and West Ham striker Andre Ayew.
AYEW LEVELS IT FOR GHANA! ๐ฌ๐ญ
โ ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 24, 2022
The first goal for an African nation at the 2022 World Cup #ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ZjUozewI0Q
Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix restored Portugal's lead minutes after with a lovely dinked finish, before Rafael Leao bagged his first World Cup goal and made it 3-1 to Portugal after a second sublime assist from Bruno Fernandes.
Osman Bukari reduced the deficit with a header at the far post and proceeded to mock Ronaldo's SIUUU celebration as opposed to grabbing the ball and rushing back to the halfway line for the restart.
A lovely finish ๐
โ ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 24, 2022
Joรฃo Fรฉlix puts Portugal back in front! #ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/YyxGOACFFY
It looks like Portugals night! ๐ต๐น
โ ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 24, 2022
Rafael Leรฃo with a tidy finish ๐#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/MWDWaC1ulj
Ronaldo, now without a club, looked seriously in the mood after thumping in a sensational strike from distance during the warm-up.
Then, as he sang the national anthem pre-match, Ronaldo was in tears as the emotions got the better of him.
Topics:ย Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Ghana, Football World Cup