Five-star Ronaldo back on centre stage
Age-defying star leads Portugal to victory with record-breaking strike
IT WAS always going to be about him. Even if it had been 90 minutes of unrelenting tedium, with no shots and no goals, he would have been the focus after what, by his own inimitable standards, has been an extraordinary week of drama.
This being Cristiano Ronaldo, there was always going to be a way he would wrestle the agenda away from off-field furores, and what better way to do it than by setting a record that may never be broken.
Bounced out of Manchester United on Tuesday in a blaze of acrimony, Ronaldo became the first man to score at five World Cups. A run starting in Frankfurt in 2006 with a second-half penalty against Iran was extended, with fitting symmetry, in Doha with a second-half penalty against Ghana.
Otto Addo, Ghana’s incredulous
manager, called it ‘a present’ and perhaps it was. First instinct was not to think ‘foul’ when he tangled with Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu but referee Ismail Elfath was unmoved, despite a flurry of protests. Ghana’s defenders then moved their frustrations on to Ronaldo, trying to badger him and put him off.
As if they could. With one bounce of the ball, one puff of his cheeks and a pronounced run-up, Ronaldo swept his shot firmly past keeper Lawrence Zigi and was on his way, hurtling into the corner of Stadium 974 and celebrating with his trademark ‘SIU!’ jump. It felt like the whole crowd joined in.
What a moment. Whatever drama there has been at Old Trafford, whatever your feelings about the tantrums, the selfish behaviour and the constant negativity that has followed him this season, here you had to separate it all and acknowledge sporting genius.
It matters not that Ronaldo, at 37, no longer moves with the gazelle- like speed that was a trademark of his youth, in those early World Cups in Germany and South Africa. It does not matter that he is not operating at his
Ballon d’Or peak winning years at Real Madrid.
This was history. This was moving ahead of Pele — say that back to yourself again for the magnitude. Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi are the other members of The Four Club but Ronaldo is out on his own again, in uncharted territory. His
team- mates recognised the symbolism, hugging him and not letting go.
There was a lovely moment in the tunnel as he waited to come out. Having given high fives to the 22 mascots, one little boy could not believe his good fortune and mouthed ‘Oh my God!’ when he saw Ronaldo standing in front of
him. He tried his luck for an extra hand slap — and got it, too.
So however much you might dislike him, don’t forget to a generation of innocent dreamers he remains a superhero, the man who actually does on a pitch what only seems possible on a computer. That little boy had a night he will never forget and nor will many of
the rest of us here. The occasion seemed to get to ronaldo before kick- off and he had tears in his eyes as the Portuguese national anthem played, aware there will not be too many more opportunities of this kind.
In a charmless first half, he was the one who looked capable of making something happen. he should have scored in the 10th minute when put through by Otavio, but a heavy touch in front of Ghana’s wonderful, noisy and colourful fans allowed Zigi to save at his feet.
he smiled wryly, knowing he should have done better, but was grimacing three minutes later when he got his timing wrong attempting to head in a cross from raphael Guerreiro at the back post. Again, that chance should have been converted and he chastised himself for failing.
American referee elfath was the subject of his ire in the 31st minute when, for some reason, it was deemed he had fouled Alexander Djiku as he latched on to a ball from Joao Felix. replays showed it was a poor decision.
Portugal deserved the breakthrough and it eventually came in the 63rd minute.
The spot- kick, which was captured on countless mobile phones for digital posterity, was awarded at a time when they were beginning to go through the gears, prompted by United’s superb Bruno Fernandes.
Ghana, at least, came back into it in the 73rd minute, levelling when Danilo got his feet tangled to afford Andre Ayew a tap-in after super work from Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus down the left. On the halfway line, ronaldo looked back with incredulity.
Was his night going to be ruined? As if. Ghana lost their shape and discipline and Felix and substitute rafael Leao plundered counterattack goals that secured the win.
Indeed, ronaldo might have had another himself but for a super save from Zigi.
Quite how he would have viewed things had Osman Bukari’s 89thminute strike — which saw him imitate ronaldo’s SIU! celebration — triggered a late winner can only be speculated.
A howler from keeper Diogo Costa nearly did just that. he rolled the ball out without seeing Inaki Williams lurking behind him, but the Ghana man slipped when attempting to steal the ball and the chance was hacked clear.
At the final whistle, ronaldo was back on the field taking the adulation and hearing his name read out as player of the match.
Another debatable award but why argue? Some things, for better or worse, never change. With ronaldo, it was ever thus.