Cristiano Ronaldo was captured walking off in tears as Portugal were dumped out of the 2022 World Cup with a Shock 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Ronaldo, 37, came off the bench in the 51st minute of the match to replace Ruben Neves with Portugal trailing 1-0 after a first-half goal from Youssef En-Nesyri.
Unfortunately, Ronaldo was unable to inspire his country back into the game as Morocco defended with their lives to become the first African team to reach the semi-final at the World Cup.
Ronaldo missed a chance late on as his right-footed effort was well saved by Yassine Bounou.
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He will be 41 when the next World Cup comes around in the summer of 2026, meaning that was most likely his final opportunity to win the major tournament.
However, Ronaldo did manage to break a few records in Qatar, despite being benched in two of Portugal’s matches.
He scored in their opening fixture to become the first player to score in five different World Cups before then drawing level with the record for most capped men’s international when he came off the bench against Morocco.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner matches the total of Kuwait forward Badr Al-Mutawa, adding to the list of records in his legendary career.
3 Comments
EYA…It is HIS LAST that’s WHY.
HE would have LOVED to be REMEMBERED as a GOAT with a WORLD CUP TROPHY when HE RETIRES
Rona nwa, sorry ehn. No cry ehn. You met a determined team.
It is now clear that the defeats of Belgium and Spain were no flukes. Morocco na quality team. No big stars, but they are a well drilled, highly organized, highly tactical unit. Anybody that wants to beat Morocco will have to climb a mountain.
Morocco no send anybody. They are not intimidated by big names. They will enter the field and play you 11 vs 11. And if you are unable to beat them, THEY WILL BEAT YOU.
This is the mindset the SE needs.
These guys Messi and Rinaldo are overated..If wining the world cup is by voting then both will have been awarded the world cup. Unfortunately u win the world cup by showing working..If Rinaldo and Messi belong to the class of Pele , Maradona, Ronaldho, Zidane. let them show working on the platform of a big tournament like the world cup not by accumulating political ballon d or