Cristiano Ronaldo cops huge blow in bid to claim teammate's goal
Cristiano Ronaldo will be disappointed to hear that FIFA and Adidas have confirmed the forward did not get a touch on the goal he claimed during Portugal's win over Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo celebrated Portugal's first goal against Uruguay after he claimed the slightest of touches from a Bruno Fernandes cross, before the midfielder scored from the spot to guarantee his team's qualification for the round of 16.
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However, moments after Ronaldo claimed the goal from Fernandes' cross, FIFA ruled that the ball went directly in without the help from the Portuguese forward. This appeared to confuse Ronaldo who was caught reacting to the big screen.
Debate raged on whether Ronaldo extended his record-goal tally for Portugal or Fernandes scored a double for his nation. Many fans mocked Ronaldo for his reaction to claiming the goal, despite inconclusive replays.
Other fans defended Ronaldo for continuing his dream of breaking records. But FIFA, along with ball sponsor Adidas, have claimed they have proof of who scored. Using the microchip in the ball, which tracks data, FIFA claim Ronaldo did not get a touch on the cross as there was no spike to indicate contact.
Adidas have confirmed no contact was made between the World Cup matchball and Cristiano Ronaldo, thanks to a 500Hz IMU sensor and Connected Ball Technology housed in Adidas’s Al Rihla used in the tournament… 👀❌ pic.twitter.com/v9MvtFXnMT
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 29, 2022
"No external force on the ball could be measured as shown by the lack of 'heartbeat' in our measurements," a FIFA statement read. "The 500HZ IMU sensor inside the ball allows us to be highly accurate in our analysis.
Adidas added: "Technology inside the ball definitively shows there was no touch." This all but ends the debate and leaves Ronaldo now two goals behind Mbappe, Gakpo and Rashford with all three of these goal scorers advancing into the knockout stages of the World Cup.
In what will surely be Ronaldo's last World Cup, the Portuguese forward is attempting to achieve two feats he is yet to accomplish in his decorated career. Those are to lift the World Cup and finish as the highest goal scorer of the competition.
However, Ronaldo sits two goals behind the leading goal scorers. While Ronaldo still have one more group stage game left, so does young French superstar Mbappe.
Portugal advance to World Cup knockout stage
Portugal's second win in two games put them top of Group H on six points and heading into the last 16. Uruguay, third on one point, must beat Ghana in their final group game to have a chance of progressing. Ghana sit second in the group following their 3-2 win over South Korea earlier on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).
The result takes Portugal through to the Round of 16. It leaves Uruguay needing to answer all sorts of questions about its impotence, and about whether this is the end of the road for Suarez, Cavani and their golden generation on the international stage.
To prolong a brilliant era, they’ll need to beat Ghana and, if South Korea beats Portugal, they’ll need to better Korea’s goal difference. Ghana's win earlier in the day came after Mohammed Kudus scored twice in a wild 3-2 victory over Korea that keeps their World Cup hopes alive and leaves Paulo Bento's Korean side facing an early exit.
with agencies
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