Featured Image Credit: ITV
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Ghana, Football World Cup
Josh Lawless
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Ghana, Football World Cup
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.
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.
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.
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.