Goatee & goals turn this into Ronaldo’s Cup
MOSCOW » Cristiano Ronaldo walked out for warmups at sun-splashed Luzhniki Stadium with diamonds affixed to each earlobe and a new goatee sprouting from his chin — like a goat, get it? Greatest of All Time.
He sparkled, even before the opening whistle of Portugal’s World Cup match against Morocco. And then he validated his flashy look with another glittering goal.
Gems removed, Ronaldo headed in Joao Moutinho’s cross after Bernardo Silva’s short corner kick in the fourth minute to become the career international scoring leader among European players, and followed with one of his look-at-me-me-me celebratory runs. Ronaldo’s tournament-high fourth goal stood up for a 1-0 win over a tenacious Moroccan team on Wednesday, putting the European champions in good position to advance to the MOST INTERNATIONAL GOALS World Cup’s knockout rounds.
Prolific scorer, pretty boy. Acrobat, diver. Winner, whiner.
Goatee and goals are turning this into Ronaldo’s World Cup at age 33, past the age considered a soccer player’s prime.
“He’s like a port wine,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said through a translator. “He knows how to refine his capacity and age at his best.”
Ronaldo’s competition with Lionel Messi is the great Millennial rivalry in sports, soccer’s version of Ali
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after his fourth goal of the World Cup gave Portugal a 1-0 win over Morocco in Moscow on Wednesday.
vs. Frazier, Bird vs. Magic, DiMaggio vs. Williams.
They’ve split the last 10 FIFA Player of the Year awards. Ronaldo has won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid in the past decade, Messi three with Barcelona.
Ronaldo covets attention. After the first of his three goals against Spain in Portugal’s opener last week, Ronaldo stroked his chin as he ran in celebration. Adidas is running an advertisement featuring Messi with a real goat.
No question Ronaldo works hard to be the best, whether it’s effort in training, nutrition to keep his body resembling Michelangelo’s “David” or ensuring proper rest.
“He does everything he needs to be better every day,” Portugal defender Cedric said.
Ronaldo’s 85th goal moved him one ahead of Ferenc Puskas into sole possession of second on the career international scoring list. He broke free of defender Manuel Da Costa and leaned low for a header from the top of the 6-yard box.
His celebration was a ballet that would have made George Balanchine proud. Ronaldo ran toward a corner flag, and pounded the number 7 on his jersey twice — not the team crest. He jumped and twirled his right hand three times before landing with arms spread like a seagull’s wings, mouth open.
“It was beautiful for me,” Ronaldo said after FIFA presented him with his second straight man of the match award.
He already has surpassed Pele and Diego Maradona in one measure. Ronaldo has an airport named after him — Aeroporto da Madeira, on the island near his birthplace in Funchal.
Lionel Messi is going to have a hard time keeping up with Cristiano Ronaldo at this year’s World Cup. The Argentina great had a penalty kick saved during his team’s tournament-opening 1-1 draw with Iceland. At 31, this could be Messi’s last World Cup, and Thursday’s match against Croatia is crucial as the longtime Barcelona forward tries to deliver his first major title for Argentina. Messi’s biggest rival, Ronaldo, seems less burdened during what could also be his final World Cup run. Croatia leads Group D after its 2-0 win over Nigeria, and another victory would put Argentina in a precarious position. Veteran midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic shined in the opener, with Modric scoring one goal and setting up another. Croatia hasn’t advanced past the group stage since 1998, and this could be the last chance for Modric, Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic, all of whom are over 30. DENMARK VS. AUSTRALIA
Australia, the decided underdog in a group that features three teams in the top 11 of the FIFA rankings, gets another tough matchup after dropping its opener to France. A loss to Denmark — which is unbeaten in its last 16 international matches — would make it very difficult for the Socceroos to advance. Denmark will move on without starting midfielder William Kvist, who fractured two ribs and was sent home for treatment. He is not expected to play again in the tournament no matter how far Denmark advances. FRANCE VS. PERU
Tens of thousands of Peru fans have followed their team to the most remote city in this World Cup — Yekaterinburg, which is roughly 1,056 miles east of Moscow, a 25-hour drive that includes a pass over the Ural Mountains.The question for France and coach Didier Deschamps heading into the tournament was whether his young, talented team could play together effectively. France’s uneven opener didn’t provide a clear answer, and Deschamps could change his lineup or tactics, although he hasn’t specified how.