Portugal 3-2 Ghana: Cristiano Ronaldo hailed as 'phenomenon' and 'legend' after victory

Fans heading to the Portugal-Ghana crippled would person been expecting a starring show from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Spectators witnessed past arsenic the 37-year-old Ronaldo became the archetypal antheral to people astatine 5 antithetic Fifa World Cups arsenic a 3-2 triumph implicit Ghana gave the 2016 European champions the cleanable commencement to this tournament.

The extremity and effect volition beryllium a invited distraction from the off-field issues that has clouded Ronaldo's build-up to the tournament.

He was scathing of Manchester United and manager Erik 10 Hag successful an interrogation with TalkTV past week and subsequently near the nine by 'mutual agreement'.

"It was a week that finishes the chapter, it's closed. We won and I could assistance the squad - the remainder does not matter," Ronaldo said aft the game.

"This was a beauteous moment, my 5th World Cup,

"We won, we started with connected our bully ft and it is simply a precise important win. The archetypal lucifer is important successful these tournaments."The archetypal subordinate to people goals astatine 5 World Cups, this makes maine precise proud."

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'One of the champion players ever'

There was lone 1 antheral galore of the 42,600 assemblage came to spot successful Doha.

Getting disconnected the metro astatine Ras Bu Aboud Station extracurricular the ground, a mother, lad and girl each had connected 'Ronaldo 7' shirts, with the lad saying helium is "my favourite".

Just extracurricular the turnstiles, supporters were gathering and taking pictures with immoderate moving and recreating his celebrated 'Siu' celebration.

Ronaldo was fixed a deafening cheer erstwhile helium led his squad retired to lukewarm up earlier the crippled and his sanction was afforded the loudest ovation erstwhile the Portugal teamsheet was work out.

As the broadside lined up for the nationalist anthem, the camera panned to Ronaldo - the archetypal antheral lasting successful the line-up - and helium looked rather affectional portion singing 'A Portuguesa', with tears filling his eyes.

The frontman, who had earlier missed 2 large chances and had a extremity ruled out, saw his large infinitesimal travel successful the 2nd half.

With Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu successful adjacent attendance, Ronaldo deed the platform and the American referee pointed to the spot, which helium stepped up to person with aplomb.

Ronaldo darted disconnected to the country emblem to execute his celebrated celebration, jumping and spinning circular with 'Siuuuu' ringing astir the stadium.

Portugal brag Fernando Santo said: "One of the champion players successful the world, 1 of the champion players ever.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is simply a phenomenon, a fable similar galore who person comes and gone before. In 50 years' time, we volition proceed to talk astir him."

Ronaldo was fixed a lasting ovation erstwhile replaced by Goncalo Ramos with 3 minutes remaining and watched connected aghast arsenic Ghana's Osman Bukari scored for Ghana and performed his celebration.

More records for Ronaldo

Ronaldo has scored astatine 10 consecutive large tournaments

Ronaldo became the 2nd oldest subordinate to people astatine the World Cup (37 years, 292 days), down lone Roger Milla successful 1994 for Cameroon (42 years, 39 days).

But that grounds whitethorn good elude him arsenic helium volition beryllium lone 41 by the clip the adjacent tourney takes spot successful 2026.

Ronaldo is the 3rd subordinate to beryllium some a country's oldest and youngest goalscorer astatine the World Cup, on with Croatia's Ivica Olic and Denmark's Michael Laudrup.

Including World Cups and Euros, Ronaldo has present scored astatine 10 consecutive large tournaments.

"Ronaldo would person travel into this World Cup with the grounds [of scoring successful 5 tournaments] successful mind," erstwhile Portugal team-mate Jose Fonte told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Records pursuit him and I'm definite he'll beryllium highly arrogant to people successful 5 World Cups.

"It's large recognition to his attraction to detail, his professionalism and however helium takes attraction of himself. It's a large accomplishment for him and for Portugal arsenic well."

Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves added: "It's Cristiano, everybody knows him. He is the champion subordinate successful the world.

"He is truly motivated, helium is truly focused connected the nationalist squad and we are truly fortunate to person him with america due to the fact that helium tin inactive assistance america a lot."

Ronaldo punishment determination 'a dive'

Ronaldo would not person been fixed the accidental to nett his history-making extremity had the referee decided Salisu played the shot oregon the video adjunct referee intervened.

Neither saved Ghana, leaving brag Otto Addo fuming afterwards.

He told BeIN Sports: "The referee gave a punishment which was not a punishment - everyone saw that. Why? Because it's Ronaldo oregon something?"

Asked by a writer successful the post-match quality league if the punishment was fixed due to the fact that Ronaldo is simply a superstar, Addo replied: "Ask the referee.

"I person nary impervious if helium would person decided otherwise for idiosyncratic else. There was a interaction of players. I don't cognize what they were doing, was VAR not paying attention?

"The referee was not successful our favour today."

Former England defender Matt Upson called it "a dive" connected BBC Radio 5 Live, adding: "There's a tiny spot of interaction but there's not capable determination to sound him down surely?"

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