Ronaldo makes World Cup history, Portugal beats Ghana 3-2
Thursday, 24 November 2022, 20:19
Last update: about 5 hours ago
Cristiano Ronaldo closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then made World Cup history.
The Portugal forward became the first male player to score at five World Cups with his 65th-minute penalty in Thursday’s 3-2 win over Ghana.
Andre Ayew equalized for Ghana eight minutes later, but Joao Felix regained the lead for Portugal in the 78th and Rafael Leao added the third. Osman Bukari reduced Ghana’s deficit in the 89th.
Ronaldo, 37, has been looking to showcase his talents to potential new clubs after his contract with Manchester United was terminated this week. After missing two good chances in the first half, he fell under a challenge from the Ghanaian defender Mohammed Salisu to earn a penalty.
Wheeling away after the ball hit the back of the net, Ronaldo smiling performed his usual jump and spin in the air – the crowd roared his trademark “SI-UUU” as he did the pirouette – before being mobbed by teammates.
He has now scored in every World Cup since his first in 2006 and has a record 118 international goals.
It was a wild end to a slow World Cup match that ended with Portugal defender Danilo clearing the ball wide of the line in the ninth minute of stoppage time. Ronaldo, who was sitting in the dugout after being substituted, put his hand on his head in relief.
Ronaldo, of course, took center stage at the start of his fifth and likely final World Cup, particularly after a fraught build-up to the tournament in which he gave an unauthorized and critical interview to -manager, owners and friends of Manchester United. On Tuesday, he was parted with the English club, meaning he is in the shop window in Qatar.
Another scoring record adds to the luster of his resume. A penalty against Iran in 2006 started his World Cup goals tally — now eight in 18 matches — and he lifted the ball past Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati with the his last spot kick after a long and theatrical buildup to the penalty.
Bruno Fernandes arguably played a more important role in Portugal’s victory, setting up the team’s second and third goals with perfectly weighted through-balls.
Still, Portugal’s players almost called it quits after losing their composure in a chaotic final few minutes, which saw the comical scene of Bukari performing Ronaldo’s “SI-UUU” celebration after the goal his
In the other Group H match, South Korea and Uruguay drew 0-0.