After latest milestone, Cristiano Ronaldo eyes World Cup glory

Anot her game, another personal milestone. For all the turmoil that has surrounded Cristiano

Ronaldo ahead of what is likely to be his final World Cup, the Portu‐ gal great is still making his mark.

On Thursday, he became the first man to score in five World Cups.

Earlier this se ason,heregis‐ tered the 700th club goal of his career.

Not bad for a 37‐year‐old, who doesn't know where he will be playing beyond Qatar after having his Manchester United contract terminated in the wake of his in‐ cendiary interview criticizing manager Erik ten Hag and the club's owners.

A win against Uruguay on Mon‐ day would secure Portugal's qual‐ ification from Group H to the knockout stages with a game to spare after its opening 3‐2 win against Ghana.

"This is just the beginning," Ronaldo said in an Instagram post, ad ding that "there are no impossibilities."

But if soccer's ultimate numbers man is to achieve his ambition of lifting the one major trophy tha t eludes him, he can't do it by him‐ self. That much was clear against Ghana, when Portugal also needed goals from João Félix and Rafael Leão to hold on for victory.

Félix is the likeliest heir to Ronaldo's throne as Portugal's in‐ spiration‐in‐chief — and has even been linked with a potential move to United.

If Qatar is Ronaldo's last World Cup dance, the moves aren't quite as fluid as they once were.

His goal against Ghana came from the penalty spot, rather than a moment of the type of individ‐ ual brilliance on which his career has been built.

That being said, FIFA Technical Study Group member Sunday Oliseh still described as "total ge‐ nius" his ability to win a disputed foul from Mohammed Salisu that led to it — and Ghana coach Otto Addo insisted shouldn't have been awarded.

Ronaldo's celebrations sug‐ gested he doesn't care where the goals come from, so long as they keep on coming. But Portugal can't solely rely on such moments — and amid the noise that sur‐ rounds its most celebrated player, it can be forgotten how much talent coach Fernando San‐ tos has at his disposal.

Not least Atletico Madrid for‐ ward Félix, United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City.

"We have players that are more visible than others and they need to deal with that, with the high priority and pressure," Santos said at a news conference Sunday before the game at the Lusail Sta‐ dium. "They express themselves in one particular way. There are players who are more extro‐ verted, those more introverted, the most important thing is they play as a group, play together as one team."

Portugal will be without Danilo Pereira, who suffered a rib injury in training.

Pepe, the 39‐year‐old center back, could replace him.

Uruguay drew 0‐0 with South Korea in its first game of the tour‐ nament.

Like Portugal, Uruguay is blend‐ ing the old and the new. Ronaldo's long‐time rival from their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, Luis Suarez, is in an attack that also features the country's new gener‐ ation of talent in Darwin Núñez and Facundo Pellistri.

At 35, Suarez is no longer the force he once was and he was substituted just after an hour against South Korea. Another 35‐ year‐old in Edinson Cavani re‐ placed him, but Uruguay still couldn't find a goal.

"I said that we had not been able to perform at our best," Uruguay coach Diego Alonso said. "How‐ ever, we had six chances to score against their one in the first half — we hit South Korea's post, we had six, and two that hit the post."

Ghana exposed vulnerabilities in Portugal's defense — but Uruguay will need to be much more clinical if the South Ameri‐ can team is to capitalize on Mon‐ day.

Without Neymar, Brazil takes on Switzerland at World Cup

There's no Neymar facing Switzerland at the World Cup on Monday.

Just Richarlison. And Vinicius Junior. And Raphinha. And Rodrygo. And all the rest of the star‐laden options in a deep and talented Brazilian squad lacking its most famous player.

"Each and every one is super skilled, even the center backs and goalkeeper," Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said Sunday, de‐ scribing the Brazil players. "They are here to get the title. That's al‐ most a must for them."

Neymar's ankle injury, suffered in a 2‐0 win over hard‐tackling Serbia on Thursday, is likely to keep the Brazil No. 10 out of ac‐ tion for the rest of the Group G games.

The spotlight was already shin‐ ing brightly on No. 9 Richarlison after a stellar, scissor‐kick shot for his second goal against the Serbs.

Yakin certainly appreciated what was perhaps the standout individual moment of the first week in Qatar.

"Absolutely, that's why we love football, why we watch it, to see such goals," he said in comments translated from German.

Brazil coach Tite spoke of the different routes to goal his team has without Neymar.

"Maybe we'll see a feint or drib‐ ble from Vini, maybe we'll see creativity when finishing a play from Richarlison or a header from Pedro," he said.

"This will come up because they have that creativity," Tite said. "It's impressive how calm they can be to do things even under all this pressure."

Still, Switzerland knew how to stop the Brazil attack when Ney‐ mar was playing at the 2018 World Cup, which the teams opened by playing to a 1‐1 draw.

"They are very difficult to win against," said Marquinhos, now a starter in central defense who watched the 2018 draw from the bench in Russia.

Some of Europe's best teams have also found the Swiss a tough out in the past 18 months.

Switzerland beat Portugal and Spain in the Nations League this year. Last year, the Swiss elimi‐ nated world champion France in the European Championship and advanced to Qatar by finishing above Euro 2020 winner Italy in their World Cup qualifying group.

"We've been challenged by great teams and we've been able to score," said forward Xherdan Shaqiri, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, a Swiss record. "If we score a goal I think we can completely change the game."

Shaqiri laid on the pass for Breel Embolo to score the only goal in a 1‐0 win against Cameroon that opened the group on Thursday. The Swiss did just enough to take the three points against its ex‐ pected weakest opponent.

Top‐ranked Brazil must make a second enforced change with Éder Militão or Dani Alves avail‐ able to replace Danilo, who like Neymar was injured against Ser‐ bia.

Tite said he had decided on his lineup but would not share it ahead of Monday evening. Serbia faces Cameroon earlier in the day.

Switzerland will be without Noah Okafor, the Salzburg for‐ ward who has been a favored speedy option from the bench late in games.