Ronaldo adds to his legacy
Becomes oldest to get hat trick in Cup as Portugal draws
Cristiano Ronaldo used the World Cup to show everyone he’s the GOAT.
Ronaldo rubbed his chin after scoring minutes into Portugal’s opener against Spain, implying he is the Greatest of All Time. Then he scored two more goals, including a perfectly placed 88th-minute free kick that gave his team a 3-3 draw Friday in Sochi, Russia.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup champion, dominated much of the match but was unable to contain Ronaldo.
“When I play against a player like Ronaldo, these things can happen,” newly appointed Spain coach Fernando Hierro said.
“It’s very fortunate for whatever team has Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo had twice given European champion Portugal the lead with first-half goals at Fisht Stadium, but Diego Costa equalized with a goal in each half. Nacho Fernandez then put the Spaniares ahead with a one-timer from outside the area in the Group B match.
Ronaldo became the fourth player to score in four World Cups, joining Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler. He also became the first Portuguese player to appear in four World Cups, and at 33 became the oldest player in tournament history to score a hat trick.
He used his first goal to send a message to the world in an apparent reaction to Adidas’ “GOAT” promotion with Lionel Messi, featuring the Argentine with a real goat. Ronaldo and Messi have split the last 10 player of the year awards.
“I’ve said it so many times: Cristiano is the best (player) in the world,” Portugal coach Fernando San- Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his third goal Friday, which gave Portugal a draw with Spain in a World Cup Group B match. tos said.
Ronaldo downplayed his sixth international hat trick.
“To me, the most important (thing) is to highlight what the team has done,” he said.
Spain looked to have successfully overcome its dramatic coaching change on the eve of the tournament, but Ronaldo curled a late shot from about 25 yards into the top corner of the net as Spain goalkeeper David de Gea watched.
The Spanish federation f i red coach Julen Lopetegui for accepting a job with Real Madrid without letting it know in advance. Hierro, a former player acting as Spain’s sporting director, replaced Lopetegui and was on the bench despite no significant previous coaching experience.
“It wasn’t an easy situation,” Hierro said. “When you have this staff and these young players, they make it much easier.”
The news for Ronaldo on Friday was not all good, however.
Spanish media reported that he has agreed to plead guilty to tax fraud and pay a fine of 18.8 million euros ($21.8 milllion) in exchange for a prison sentence that would most likely be suspended.
The deal has yet to be ratified by Spain’s Tax Office, according to different Spanish media, including Europa Press news agency. Spain’s Tax Office, its Ministry of Justice and people close to Ronaldo would not confirm the existence of a deal when called by The Associated Press.
Reports of the deal came hours before Portugal’s match against Spain.
One year ago, a Spanish state prosecutor accused Ronaldo of four counts of tax fraud from 2011-14 worth 14.7 million euros ($16.5 million). The prosecutor accused Ronaldo of having used shell companies outside Spain to hide income made from image rights. The accusation does not involve his salary from Real Madrid.
Ronaldo denied any wrongdoing when questioned by a judge last July.
In 2016, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi received a suspended 21-month jail sentence after being found guilty of defrauding tax authorities of 4.1 million euros (then $4.6 million).
On a team that boasts one of the World Cup’s most potent attacks, two defenders combined to give Uruguay a late victory over Egypt in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Captain Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, who anchor the back line at Atletico Madrid as well as the national team’s traditionally solid defense, combined for the match’s only score in the 89th minute.
Godin, who was making his 117th international appearance, sent a free kick from the right toward the net. Gimenez jumped and got his head on the ball, directing it into the net and giving Uruguay its first opening-match victory at the World Cup in 48 years.
Uruguay now has three points in Group A but still trails Russia on goal difference after the host nation’s 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
An own goal by Morocco’s Aziz Bouhaddouz in the fifth minute of injury time was enough to give Iran the Group B victory in St. Petersburg, Russia.