In the final game of Group H, Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal faced off against South Korea. The game meant much more to South Korea as compared to Portugal, who had already qualified for the knockout stages after their two victories against Uruguay and Ghana.
As South Korea clinched the victory with a 2-1 scoreline, an internet frenzy calling for Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from soccer surfaced, despite the fact that Portugal qualified for the last 16 of the Qatar world cup, 2022.
Portugal took the lead inside 5 minutes, courtesy of world cup debutant Ricardo Horta. The equalizer from South Korea came after a mistake by Portuguese veteran Ronaldo made an error, which was capitalized upon by Kim Young-gwon.
In the 91st minute, Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min assisted Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan, who put the ball in the back of the net to give Korea the lead with just 4 minutes left on the clock.
The final whistle arrived to South Korean celebrations and Portuguese dismay.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best soccer players of all time, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has shown signs of decline lately.
Ronaldo, who will turn 38 in just a couple of months, still insists on going strong at the big stage, however, his numbers, of late, are just not backing up the Portuguese Legend’s resolve to continue playing.
He has had 0 non-penalty goals and has foregone 6 big chances in his last 6 games for Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s past six games for Portugal:
‣ 0 non-penalty goals
‣ 6 big chances missedLiability? 😶 pic.twitter.com/phgA9X0IGh
— Matchday365 (@Matchday365) December 2, 2022
Another shocking performance from Cristiano Ronaldo today, Honestly he is horrendous, please retired mate!
— Terry Flewers (@terryflewers) December 2, 2022
Last season, following a dramatic reunion with the club that gave him his big break in soccer, Manchester United, he oversaw club-legend-turned-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal, the arrival of interim boss Ralf Ragnick and subsequently, the arrival of permanent head coach Erik Ten Hag in the summer of 2022.
Yet, he managed to finish last season as the Red Devils’ top scorer in all competitions.
Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United this season
— Top Scorer (18 Goals) ✅
— Man United P.O.T.M (3x) ✅
— Premier League P.O.T.M (1x) ✅
— PL GOAL of The MONTH (1x) ✅
— UCL M.O.T.M (2x) ✅
— Most Match Winning Goals in The PL (6) ✅
— 3rd Top Scorer in PL ✅ pic.twitter.com/O02GM7cAGP— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) April 6, 2022
Since the latter half of last season, however, fans and pundits alike seem to have aligned opinions on the fact that Ronaldo, for all his physical attributes, has aged in terms of game awareness and pace, two of the qualities that helped him reached the pinnacle of the soccer world back in the day.
Following an interview with Piers Morgan recently after having fallen down the pecking order under ten Hag, CR7 all but announced his exit from the club and a few days later, there was an official announcement from Manchester United regarding the mutual termination of Ronaldo’s Contract.
Since then, Ronaldo has been busy with Portugal’s world cup campaign while his agent Jorge Mendes is negotiating a new deal for him elsewhere, with a mega-money switch to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr seemingly on the cards, as called by multiple journalists.
How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored in FIFA World Cup 2022?
The Portuguese legend has managed to rack up only a single goal so far in the World Cup in 2022. His goal came in the 65th minute of Portugal’s opening game against Ghana, courtesy of a Penalty awarded to Portugal after Ronaldo was brought down inside the penalty area by Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu.
Portugal’s Ronaldo First Player to Score in Five World Cups after Goal Versus Ghana
He hit home in the 64th minute to give Portugal the lead after being tripped in the box. https://t.co/0fQp7g2BOM pic.twitter.com/IpdVJODlkZ— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) November 25, 2022
Other than that, Ronaldo has by and large, been an onlooker as his compatriots are running riot at the World cup, including his former Manchester United teammates Bruno Fernandes (2 assists versus Ghana and 2 goals Versus Uruguay) and Diogo Dalot (1 assist versus South Korea).
What’s next for Portugal after loss to South Korea?
Despite losing to Asian outfit South Korea, the Portuguese still have every reason to smile as they still qualified for the round of 16, topping Group H in the process.
They will now play the runners up of Group G, Switzerland.
Switzerland have been a tough nut to crack in this world cup, overcoming challenges by Cameroon and Serbia in their group stage journey, and only suffering a single-goal defeat to favorites Brazil.
A captain’s performance from Granit Xhaka! 💪
He earns your votes for @Budweiser Player of the Match and guides Switzerland to the #FIFAWorldCup round of 16 for the third time in a row!
🇷🇸 #SRBSUI🇨🇭 #POTM #YoursToTake #BringHomeTheBud pic.twitter.com/OT8rTQnMdB
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 2, 2022
If Portugal are to breeze past the Swiss hurdle, they will certainly need their talisman, legend, and captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, firing on all cylinders!
