Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout goal against Croatia. The Portugal icon scored from the penalty spot to bag his 146th effort on the international stage, hours after the prospect of an imminent retirement was raised.
The 41-year-old has played in six editions of the tournament but never previously found the net outside of the group stages of the competition. That changed as he bagged a crucial equaliser following Ivan Perisic’s opening goal.
With Portugal behind, referee Espen Eskas was advised by VAR to go to the pitchside monitor, having missed Nikola Vlasic bring down Renato Veiga in the area. Ronaldo claimed the ball before the official had even changed his decision and then made no mistake from the spot.
It is all about mindset and mentality,” said Stephen Warnock on BBC. “Cristiano Ronaldo has arguably got the strongest mentality in world football to be doing what he does at the age of 41.
“Big moments call for big players and he is the biggest player.”
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The penalty came moments after the veteran had been cruelly denied a goal. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star put the ball in the net bud had been judged to have strayed offside by a tiny margin.
The Portuguese superstar only lasted until the 80th minute, when Roberto Martinez chose to replace the forward. Ronaldo appeared to be frustrated with the decision.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy. He is not happy at all,” said Stephen Warnock on BBC One. “Take the name out of it, it is the right decision. Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t affected the game enough. Yes, he scored the penalty. The link-up play, the pressing, it is not there from him.”
View 2 ImagesCristiano Ronaldo ended his long wait for a goal in a World Cup knockout game(Image: Patrick Smith/FIFA)
Ronaldo’s strike comes at a stage where he could be entering his final matches on the international stage. Before Portugal’s match against Croatia, the icon’s sister, Katia Aveiro suggested he could hang up his boots for his country.
“From the information I have, they can say goodbye,” Aveiro told Portuguese broadcaster SportTV ahead of kick-off
“Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s not today that they’re saying goodbye, but it’s soon. I believe this is their farewell. Enjoy it a lot. It will be difficult to find someone like him.
“I’m talking about the national team. The information I have, from a reliable source, I believe this is his last dance. For intelligent people, those who like football have to like Ronaldo. Those who don’t like Ronaldo don’t like football. They’re the ones who lose out.
“He’s been tearing it up for over 20 years. Do they think we’re not happy? Look where we are, the Aveiro family, and where we came from.
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“We’ve achieved so much, considering where we came from… after the struggle we went through, what my brother went through, the achievements my mother had… Do they think the criticism will interfere with our happiness? Never.”
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