<p>Manchester United made a positive start to life without Cristiano Ronaldo as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial stepped out from the Portuguese's shadow to score in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. Ronaldo's rollercoaster second spell at Old Trafford came to an end during the World Cup break after an explosive interview in which he took aim at manager Erik ten Hag and the club's owners.</p>

<p>On the field, his influence had already waned since Ten Hag took charge at the start of the season. Rashford has been a player transformed under the Dutch coach and carried his fine form for England at the World Cup into the Premier League's return. A brilliantly worked corner opened the floodgates for United as Christian Eriksen picked out an unmarked Rashford inside the area to sweep into the top corner. Forest were without their first choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson as he is on loan from United and his understudy Wayne Hennessey was culpable when the home side doubled their lead just three minutes later. Rashford's burst down the left and teed up Martial at the edge of the box, but the Frenchman's strike should not have had enough power to beat the Welsh international goalkeeper.</p>

<p>United were also short handed at the back with Lisandro Martinez absent following Argentina's World Cup celebrations, Diogo Dalot injured and Harry Maguire still feeling the aftereffects of an illness. As a result Raphael Varane was forced into starting just nine days after playing 113 minutes for France in the World Cup final, while Luke Shaw lined up as a centre-back in a back four for the first time. But Forest did little to test a makeshift backline as they remain with just one goal away from home in the league all season.</p>

<p>Steve Cooper's men did have the ball in the net shortly before half-time, but Willy Boly's effort was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check.<br />
Ten Hag has publicly stated his desire to add a striker in the January window given Ronaldo's departure and United should have added more than one goal in the second half. Antony fired straight at Hennessey after fine play from Rashford and Bruno Fernandes gave the Brazilian a clear sight of goal.</p>

<p>Hennessey also stood firm to block from Martial and Rashford from close range, but the Red Devils finally got the third goal they deserved three minutes from time. The imperious Casemiro strode forward to win possession and picked out his Brazilian compatriot Fred to slot into the far corner. Victory takes United to within one point of the top four and with a game in hand to come on fourth-placed Tottenham. Forest remain rooted in the relegation zone, but just one point adrift of safety.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/karim-benzema-was-fit-but-sent-home-prematurely-benzemas-agent-lashes-out-at-france-boss-deschamps-547290">Karim Benzema was fit but sent home prematurely: Agent lashes out at France boss Deschamps</a></strong></p>

<p>Chelsea manager Graham Potter praised the Blues' reaction to a poor run prior to the World Cup as they eased past Bournemouth 2-0 on Tuesday to end a five-game winless streak in the Premier League. Kai Havertz and Mason Mount struck inside the first 24 minutes to get Chelsea back in the hunt for a place in next season's Champions League. Victory took Chelsea up to eighth and within six points of the top four.</p>

<p>"You have to use breaks as best you can," Potter told Amazon Prime. "Evaluate and reassess and get injured players back. We used it as best we could even with players coming back at different times." However, victory came at a cost as defender Reece James limped off on his return from the knee injury which kept him out of England’s World Cup campaign.</p>

<p>James cruised through the first half but called for a substitution early in the second and looked disconsolate as he pointed to his knee before going to ground."You can see his quality. It's a blow for us," added Potter. "I'm not sure on the state of the injury. It's too early to say." Potter, aiming to avoid overseeing a fourth consecutive Chelsea league defeat for the first time since 1998, handed Denis Zakaria his Premier League debut.</p>

<p>The Swiss midfielder broke forward well to drive Chelsea up the pitch in the first half, while the effervescent attacking duo of Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic led the Bournemouth defence on a merry dance. Sterling provided the opener with an incisive low cross to the back post where Havertz slid in to convert in the 16th minute. Mount doubled the lead with a well-taken drive from the edge of the box as Chelsea stepped up another gear before Pulisic had another goal disallowed for a foul by Havertz in the build-up.</p>

<p>After three games in all competitions without scoring a goal, the Blues were determined to end their disappointing streak and get their season back on track. Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers did well to deny James after a dynamic burst forward, then made an even better save to foil Sterling before the break to keep his team in the game. Havertz fired wide and Mount forced Travers into a smart low stop as Chelsea tried to put the game out of sight.</p>

<p>In the end they didn't need to as Bournemouth failed to threaten other than Jaidon Anthony's late free-kick that was beaten away by Kepa Arrizabalaga. "We won't be measured on games at Chelsea," said Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil. "You need everything to go for you. The response to being 2-0 down, they showed incredible belief we could get something from the game." A fifth defeat in six league games leaves Bournemouth just three points above the relegation zone</p>


Manchester United made a positive start to life without Cristiano Ronaldo as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial stepped out from the Portuguese's shadow to score in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Manchester United made a positive start to life without Cristiano Ronaldo as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial stepped out from the Portuguese's shadow to score in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. Ronaldo's rollercoaster second spell at Old Trafford came to an end during the World Cup break after an explosive interview in which he took aim at manager Erik ten Hag and the club's owners. On the field, his influence had already waned since Ten Hag took charge at the start of the season. Rashford has been a player transformed under the Dutch coach and carried his fine form for England at the World Cup into the Premier League's return. A brilliantly worked corner opened the floodgates for United as Christian Eriksen picked out an unmarked Rashford inside the area to sweep into the top corner. Forest were without their first choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson as he is on loan from United and his understudy Wayne Hennessey was culpable when the home side doubled their lead just three minutes later. Rashford's burst down the left and teed up Martial at the edge of the box, but the Frenchman's strike should not have had enough power to beat the Welsh international goalkeeper. United were also short handed at the back with Lisandro Martinez absent following Argentina's World Cup celebrations, Diogo Dalot injured and Harry Maguire still feeling the aftereffects of an illness. As a result Raphael Varane was forced into starting just nine days after playing 113 minutes for France in the World Cup final, while Luke Shaw lined up as a centre-back in a back four for the first time. But Forest did little to test a makeshift backline as they remain with just one goal away from home in the league all season. Steve Cooper's men did have the ball in the net shortly before half-time, but Willy Boly's effort was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check. Ten Hag has publicly stated his desire to add a striker in the January window given Ronaldo's departure and United should have added more than one goal in the second half. Antony fired straight at Hennessey after fine play from Rashford and Bruno Fernandes gave the Brazilian a clear sight of goal. Hennessey also stood firm to block from Martial and Rashford from close range, but the Red Devils finally got the third goal they deserved three minutes from time. The imperious Casemiro strode forward to win possession and picked out his Brazilian compatriot Fred to slot into the far corner. Victory takes United to within one point of the top four and with a game in hand to come on fourth-placed Tottenham. Forest remain rooted in the relegation zone, but just one point adrift of safety. Also read: Karim Benzema was fit but sent home prematurely: Agent lashes out at France boss Deschamps Chelsea manager Graham Potter praised the Blues' reaction to a poor run prior to the World Cup as they eased past Bournemouth 2-0 on Tuesday to end a five-game winless streak in the Premier League. Kai Havertz and Mason Mount struck inside the first 24 minutes to get Chelsea back in the hunt for a place in next season's Champions League. Victory took Chelsea up to eighth and within six points of the top four. "You have to use breaks as best you can," Potter told Amazon Prime. "Evaluate and reassess and get injured players back. We used it as best we could even with players coming back at different times." However, victory came at a cost as defender Reece James limped off on his return from the knee injury which kept him out of England’s World Cup campaign. James cruised through the first half but called for a substitution early in the second and looked disconsolate as he pointed to his knee before going to ground."You can see his quality. It's a blow for us," added Potter. "I'm not sure on the state of the injury. It's too early to say." Potter, aiming to avoid overseeing a fourth consecutive Chelsea league defeat for the first time since 1998, handed Denis Zakaria his Premier League debut. The Swiss midfielder broke forward well to drive Chelsea up the pitch in the first half, while the effervescent attacking duo of Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic led the Bournemouth defence on a merry dance. Sterling provided the opener with an incisive low cross to the back post where Havertz slid in to convert in the 16th minute. Mount doubled the lead with a well-taken drive from the edge of the box as Chelsea stepped up another gear before Pulisic had another goal disallowed for a foul by Havertz in the build-up. After three games in all competitions without scoring a goal, the Blues were determined to end their disappointing streak and get their season back on track. Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers did well to deny James after a dynamic burst forward, then made an even better save to foil Sterling before the break to keep his team in the game. Havertz fired wide and Mount forced Travers into a smart low stop as Chelsea tried to put the game out of sight. In the end they didn't need to as Bournemouth failed to threaten other than Jaidon Anthony's late free-kick that was beaten away by Kepa Arrizabalaga. "We won't be measured on games at Chelsea," said Bournemouth boss Gary O'Neil. "You need everything to go for you. The response to being 2-0 down, they showed incredible belief we could get something from the game." A fifth defeat in six league games leaves Bournemouth just three points above the relegation zone

Premier League: Man United off to bright start sans Cristiano Ronaldo, Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2-0

<p>The comparison between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is never-ending. The debate regarding the greatest of all time between the duo saw a twist after the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup 2022 edition. With Argentina winning their first-ever WC title after 1986, Messi also got his hands on the coveted title in what was his swansong from the marquee tournament. Winning the World Cup, Messi has gone ahead of Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T debate and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also lavished huge praise on him, calling him as the 'greatest footbaler in my lifetime'.</p>

<p>"Argentina deserved it and when you saw the team and the country celebrating, then it probably hit the right country in difficult times. I am really happy for them, they waited for a long time,” Klopp explained.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-you-let-your-country-down-brentford-fans-mock-harry-kane-during-premier-league-clash-547055">WATCH | 'You let your country down', Brentford fans mock Harry Kane during Premier League clash</a></strong></p>

<p>"The greatest footballer in my lifetime, Lionel Messi, the way he plays football in this age should give us all a hint at how long footballers can perform at the top level. We shouldn’t close the books too early. It was a joy to watch him," Klopp was quoted as saying by The ECHO. Messi had a memorable run in the Qatar WC, scoring seven goals along with three assists to also end with the Golden Ball Award. He became the first-ever player to win the award twice, having already won it in 2014.</p>

<p>Messi-led Argentina started the World Cup with a shocking loss versus Saudi Arabia. After that, they regrouped in style and went onto win six games in a row to lift the title, beating defending champions France -- at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar -- on December 18 on penalty shootout (4-2) after the two sides were tied at 3-3 following the extra time. After this memorable victory, Messi has earned the Copa America as well as the World Cup title in over 12 months to stamp his authority as one of the greatest of all-time.</p>


The comparison between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is never-ending. The debate regarding the greatest of all time between the duo saw a twist after the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup 2022 edition.

The comparison between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is never-ending. The debate regarding the greatest of all time between the duo saw a twist after the conclusion of the Qatar World Cup 2022 edition. With Argentina winning their first-ever WC title after 1986, Messi also got his hands on the coveted title in what was his swansong from the marquee tournament. Winning the World Cup, Messi has gone ahead of Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T debate and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also lavished huge praise on him, calling him as the 'greatest footbaler in my lifetime'. "Argentina deserved it and when you saw the team and the country celebrating, then it probably hit the right country in difficult times. I am really happy for them, they waited for a long time,” Klopp explained. Also read: WATCH | 'You let your country down', Brentford fans mock Harry Kane during Premier League clash "The greatest footballer in my lifetime, Lionel Messi, the way he plays football in this age should give us all a hint at how long footballers can perform at the top level. We shouldn’t close the books too early. It was a joy to watch him," Klopp was quoted as saying by The ECHO. Messi had a memorable run in the Qatar WC, scoring seven goals along with three assists to also end with the Golden Ball Award. He became the first-ever player to win the award twice, having already won it in 2014. Messi-led Argentina started the World Cup with a shocking loss versus Saudi Arabia. After that, they regrouped in style and went onto win six games in a row to lift the title, beating defending champions France -- at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar -- on December 18 on penalty shootout (4-2) after the two sides were tied at 3-3 following the extra time. After this memorable victory, Messi has earned the Copa America as well as the World Cup title in over 12 months to stamp his authority as one of the greatest of all-time.

'Greatest footballer in my lifetime': Ronaldo or Messi? Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shares his pick

Many reports have linked the superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo to several top clubs. It has been rumoured that the Portugal captain is making a move to Saudi Arabia.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr?

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidvs6rhOqrrnN6" /><meta charset="utf-8" /><meta name="uuid" content="uuidvs6rhOqrrnN6" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given his two cents on Cristiano Ronaldo and the snub that the Portuguese received during the FIFA World Cup. Erdogan said Ronaldo was subjected to a political ban during the tournament because he supported the Palestinian cause.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“They have wasted Ronaldo. Unfortunately, they have imposed a political ban on him,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by Al-Jazeera.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Sending a footballer like Ronaldo to the pitch with just 30 minutes remaining to the match ruined his psychology and took away his energy," said the Turkish leader before adding, Ronaldo is someone who stands for the Palestinian cause."</p>

<p>While Erdogan claimed that Ronaldo supported Palestine, there is no real public evidence that points to the same.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-cristiano-ronaldos-journey-at-the-2022-fifa-world-cup-542012/#ronaldos-first-goal-at-2022-world-cup-541999"><strong>In pics | Cristiano Ronaldo's journey at the 2022 FIFA World Cup</strong></a></p>

<p>Several doctored images and false reports routinely do the rounds of social media, suggesting the same. However, nearly every such post has been fact-checked and proven to be false.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A picture of Ronaldo holding a sign that reads “Together with the Palestinians" in Spanish went viral recently. However, it was found to be morphed as the original photo showed Ronaldo showing solidarity with the survivors of the Lorca earthquake.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Portugal crashed out of the World Cup, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably. In a video that went viral on social media platforms, an emotional Ronaldo could be seen walking off the pitch after the final whistle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-cristiano-ronaldo-moving-to-saudi-arabian-club-al-nassr-547016"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr?</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-cristiano-ronaldo-moving-to-saudi-arabian-club-al-nassr-547016/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>After starting the initial games, Ronaldo was snubbed from a place in the placing XI by then-manager Fernando Santos. While the ploy worked elegantly against Switzerland in the pre-quarterfinal, Portugal missed Ronaldo's class in the quarterfinal where they lost to Morocco.</p>

<p>Santos at the time said he had no regrets for benching Ronaldo: “No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets."</p>

<p>The 2022 World Cup was potentially Ronaldo's last dance on the world stage. Currently a free agent, the former Manchester United striker has been linked to a move to Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portugal-coach-santos-says-he-has-no-regrets-for-benching-ronaldo-541970" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given his two cents on Cristiano Ronaldo and the snub that the Portuguese received during the FIFA World Cup. Erdogan said Ronaldo was subjected to a political ban during the tournament because he supported the Palestinian cause.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given his two cents on Cristiano Ronaldo and the snub that the Portuguese received during the FIFA World Cup. Erdogan said Ronaldo was subjected to a political ban during the tournament because he supported the Palestinian cause. “They have wasted Ronaldo. Unfortunately, they have imposed a political ban on him,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by Al-Jazeera. “Sending a footballer like Ronaldo to the pitch with just 30 minutes remaining to the match ruined his psychology and took away his energy," said the Turkish leader before adding, Ronaldo is someone who stands for the Palestinian cause." While Erdogan claimed that Ronaldo supported Palestine, there is no real public evidence that points to the same. In pics | Cristiano Ronaldo's journey at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Several doctored images and false reports routinely do the rounds of social media, suggesting the same. However, nearly every such post has been fact-checked and proven to be false. A picture of Ronaldo holding a sign that reads “Together with the Palestinians" in Spanish went viral recently. However, it was found to be morphed as the original photo showed Ronaldo showing solidarity with the survivors of the Lorca earthquake. After Portugal crashed out of the World Cup, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably. In a video that went viral on social media platforms, an emotional Ronaldo could be seen walking off the pitch after the final whistle. WATCH | Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? × After starting the initial games, Ronaldo was snubbed from a place in the placing XI by then-manager Fernando Santos. While the ploy worked elegantly against Switzerland in the pre-quarterfinal, Portugal missed Ronaldo's class in the quarterfinal where they lost to Morocco. Santos at the time said he had no regrets for benching Ronaldo: “No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets." The 2022 World Cup was potentially Ronaldo's last dance on the world stage. Currently a free agent, the former Manchester United striker has been linked to a move to Saudi Arabia. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Cristiano Ronaldo stands for Palestine', claims Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

<p>Following Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2022 exit in the quarterfinal stage, head coach&nbsp;Fernando Santos has left the job. Portugal made it to the last 8 of the Qatar World Cup after topping Group H (2 wins and 1 loss) and beating Switzerland 6-1 in the pre-quarters. Despite having the momentum on their side, Santos' Portugal failed to go past the quarterfinals where they suffered a shocking 0-1 loss at the hands of Morocco.</p>

<p>Moreover, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo and&nbsp;Fernando Santos didn't seem to be on the same page&nbsp;during the tournament&nbsp;as it looked like their relationship turned bitter after&nbsp; the group games ended. As a matter of fact, Santos started Ronaldo on bench&nbsp;in both pre-quarters and quarterfinal.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-final-france-winger-kingsley-coman-down-with-camel-virus-doubtful-for-argentina-clash-543374">FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: France winger Kingsley Coman down with 'camel' virus, doubtful for Argentina clash</a></p>

<p>Though Portugal advanced to the last-8&nbsp;with a more-than-comfortable win over the Swiss, the Euro 2016 winners struggled big time against Morocco, at least in the first half of the QF. Ronaldo, who was brought on in the second half did bring energy but couldn't inspire his team to win the match and cruise&nbsp;further.</p>

<p>Santos, who&nbsp;joined Portugal in 2014 as their head coach was criticised heavily&nbsp;for this tactics of his; although he later he doesn't regret taking the call of starting Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench.</p>

<p>“No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets," Santos had said after the match against Morocco.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in a statement released by the&nbsp;Portuguese Football Federation (FPF)&nbsp;on Thursday, it is stated,&nbsp;"After one of the best participations ever by the national team in the final stages of the World Cup...FPF and Fernando Santos understand this is the right moment to start a new cycle." The FPF added,&nbsp;"In addition to the titles won, Fernando Santos became the coach with the most games and most victories," FPF said. "It was an honour to have a coach and a person like Fernando Santos as the head of the national team."</p>


Following Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2022 exit in the quarterfinal stage, head coach Fernando Santos has left the job. Portugal made it to the last 8 of the Qatar World Cup after topping Group H (2 wins and 1 loss) and beating Switzerland 6-1 in the pre-quarters.

Following Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2022 exit in the quarterfinal stage, head coach Fernando Santos has left the job. Portugal made it to the last 8 of the Qatar World Cup after topping Group H (2 wins and 1 loss) and beating Switzerland 6-1 in the pre-quarters. Despite having the momentum on their side, Santos' Portugal failed to go past the quarterfinals where they suffered a shocking 0-1 loss at the hands of Morocco. Moreover, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Santos didn't seem to be on the same page during the tournament as it looked like their relationship turned bitter after the group games ended. As a matter of fact, Santos started Ronaldo on bench in both pre-quarters and quarterfinal. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022 Final: France winger Kingsley Coman down with 'camel' virus, doubtful for Argentina clash Though Portugal advanced to the last-8 with a more-than-comfortable win over the Swiss, the Euro 2016 winners struggled big time against Morocco, at least in the first half of the QF. Ronaldo, who was brought on in the second half did bring energy but couldn't inspire his team to win the match and cruise further. Santos, who joined Portugal in 2014 as their head coach was criticised heavily for this tactics of his; although he later he doesn't regret taking the call of starting Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. “No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets," Santos had said after the match against Morocco. Meanwhile, in a statement released by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) on Thursday, it is stated, "After one of the best participations ever by the national team in the final stages of the World Cup...FPF and Fernando Santos understand this is the right moment to start a new cycle." The FPF added, "In addition to the titles won, Fernando Santos became the coach with the most games and most victories," FPF said. "It was an honour to have a coach and a person like Fernando Santos as the head of the national team."

Portugal coach Fernando Santos leaves job following Qatar World Cup debacle

<p>Surely, 2022 hasn't been kind to Cristiano Ronaldo. After a fallout with the Manchester United, he left the club with his contract still not getting over. Post his exit from the Old Trafford club, the focus shifted to the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition in Qatar. Playing his last World Cup, Ronaldo was expected to take the Portugal line-up to the final but his side bowed out with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Morocco in the quarter-finals. The veteran footballer was seen crying on the field as his World Cup dream ended in a heartbreaking manner.</p>

<p>Many believed that the World Cup debacle would put an end to Ronaldo's international career. However, as per a report by Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha, the Portuguese striker might extend his career till the Euro 2024 edition. The next edition of the Euro Cup will be held in Germany and by then Ronaldo will be nearing 40. He had led his side to a remarkable Euro Cup title in 2016 and, hence, might be eager to replicate the feat once again and bow out on a high.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-confirms-retirement-fifa-world-cup-2022-finals-will-be-his-last-542862">Lionel Messi confirms Qatar 2022 final will be his last World Cup appearance</a></strong></p>

<p>Talking about Ronaldo's run in the FIFA WC in Qatar, the 37-year-old didn't have a great run as he returned with only a solitary goal -- that too via a penalty kick -- in five games. Moreover, he wasn't even in the starting XI in Portugal's last two WC fixtures, i.e. in the Round of 16 clash versus Switzerland and Morocco tie in the quarters. Given how ordinary run in the FIFA WC, it is a welcome news if Ronaldo is not looking to end his international career just yet. His ardent fans would hope for him to bounce back in style in 2023 and lead Portugal to the European championship in 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Ronaldo's longtime rival Lionel Messi confirmed that the forthcoming World Cup final will be his last appearance in the showpiece event after starring in Argentina's 3-0 win over Croatia in the first semi-final on Wednesday (December 14).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," Messi said while talking to Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.&nbsp;"It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," added the Argentina captain.</p>


Surely, 2022 hasn't been kind to Cristiano Ronaldo. After a fallout with the Manchester United, he left the club with his contract still not getting over. Post his exit from the Old Trafford club, the focus shifted to the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition in Qatar.

Surely, 2022 hasn't been kind to Cristiano Ronaldo. After a fallout with the Manchester United, he left the club with his contract still not getting over. Post his exit from the Old Trafford club, the focus shifted to the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition in Qatar. Playing his last World Cup, Ronaldo was expected to take the Portugal line-up to the final but his side bowed out with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Morocco in the quarter-finals. The veteran footballer was seen crying on the field as his World Cup dream ended in a heartbreaking manner. Many believed that the World Cup debacle would put an end to Ronaldo's international career. However, as per a report by Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha, the Portuguese striker might extend his career till the Euro 2024 edition. The next edition of the Euro Cup will be held in Germany and by then Ronaldo will be nearing 40. He had led his side to a remarkable Euro Cup title in 2016 and, hence, might be eager to replicate the feat once again and bow out on a high. Also read: Lionel Messi confirms Qatar 2022 final will be his last World Cup appearance Talking about Ronaldo's run in the FIFA WC in Qatar, the 37-year-old didn't have a great run as he returned with only a solitary goal -- that too via a penalty kick -- in five games. Moreover, he wasn't even in the starting XI in Portugal's last two WC fixtures, i.e. in the Round of 16 clash versus Switzerland and Morocco tie in the quarters. Given how ordinary run in the FIFA WC, it is a welcome news if Ronaldo is not looking to end his international career just yet. His ardent fans would hope for him to bounce back in style in 2023 and lead Portugal to the European championship in 2024. Meanwhile, Ronaldo's longtime rival Lionel Messi confirmed that the forthcoming World Cup final will be his last appearance in the showpiece event after starring in Argentina's 3-0 win over Croatia in the first semi-final on Wednesday (December 14). "I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," Messi said while talking to Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole. "It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," added the Argentina captain.

No int'l retirement for Cristiano Ronaldo despite WC debacle, likely to play till Euro 2024: Report

<p>Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time after his team crashed out of the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar. Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a lengthy message where he spoke about his biggest dream not coming true while remaining tight-lipped about his international playing career.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country's name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream," said Ronaldo in the post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The five-time Ballon d'Or winner added he fought hard for the 'dream' and that it was 'nice' till it lasted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the 5 appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream."</p>

<p>"Not much more to say for now. Thank you Portugal. Thank you Qatar The dream was nice while it lasted...Now, it's hoping that the weather will be good advisor and allow each one to draw their own conclusions."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmB-vaEoR5z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmB-vaEoR5z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmB-vaEoR5z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmB-vaEoR5z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup&nbsp;following a 1-0 loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal. After the defeat, an&nbsp;emotional Ronaldo could be seen walking off the pitch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down. The video of&nbsp;his sobbing instantly went viral on social media platforms as fans speculated that it may have been the last they had seen of Ronaldo on the world stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-cristiano-ronaldo-cries-inconsolably-after-portugals-world-cup-exit-541988"><strong>WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo cries inconsolably after Portugal's World Cup exit</strong></a></p>

<p>Ronaldo's World Cup campaign was soured a touch after coach Fernando Santos decided to bench him in the two knockout games.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the tactic worked against Switzerland, Ronaldo's goal-scoring touch was missed against Morocco where he was subbed on after halftime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Santos, however, remained steadfast on his decision and at a post-match presser said he had 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portugal-coach-santos-says-he-has-no-regrets-for-benching-ronaldo-541970" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time after his team crashed out of the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar. Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a lengthy message where he spoke about his biggest dream not coming true while remaining tight-lipped about his international playing career.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up for the first time after his team crashed out of the knockout stage of the World Cup in Qatar. Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo posted a lengthy message where he spoke about his biggest dream not coming true while remaining tight-lipped about his international playing career. "Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country's name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream," said Ronaldo in the post. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner added he fought hard for the 'dream' and that it was 'nice' till it lasted. "I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the 5 appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream." "Not much more to say for now. Thank you Portugal. Thank you Qatar The dream was nice while it lasted...Now, it's hoping that the weather will be good advisor and allow each one to draw their own conclusions." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) × Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup following a 1-0 loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal. After the defeat, an emotional Ronaldo could be seen walking off the pitch. Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down. The video of his sobbing instantly went viral on social media platforms as fans speculated that it may have been the last they had seen of Ronaldo on the world stage. WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo cries inconsolably after Portugal's World Cup exit Ronaldo's World Cup campaign was soured a touch after coach Fernando Santos decided to bench him in the two knockout games. While the tactic worked against Switzerland, Ronaldo's goal-scoring touch was missed against Morocco where he was subbed on after halftime. Santos, however, remained steadfast on his decision and at a post-match presser said he had 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo. “No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'I fought for it...': Cristiano Ronaldo opens up for the first time after World Cup exit

<p>Cristiano Ronaldo exited the FIFA World Cup following a painful loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal, maybe for the final time. Portugal fans across the world were shattered after Ronaldo's exit from the big tournament. Miles apart, Indian batsman Virat Kohli has sent a moving tribute to the Portuguese football legend. Kohli called Ronaldo, GOAT - the greatest of all time, on his Instagram post on Monday. Kohli said that no trophy or any title can take anything from what Cristiano Ronaldo has done in this sport and for sports fans around the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the best players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, might have participated in his final World Cup. Ronaldo has not been playing well in Qatar, scoring only one goal against Ghana. Portugal coach Fernando Santos benched his star player for Portugal's next two knockout games after replacing him in the team's loss to South Korea in the group stage. Santos responded to the criticism, said, despite the team's World Cup exit, he had no remorse in benching his best player Cristiano Ronaldo.</p>

<p>Former Indian skipper Kohli recently completed his four-year quest for an ODI century against Bangladesh. Taking to Instagram, Kohli backed Ronaldo after his World Cup loss. He wrote, "No title can explain the impact you have had on people and what I and so many around the world feel when we watch you play. That is a gift from god." “A real blessing to a man who plays his heart out every single time and is the epitome of hard work and dedication and a true inspiration for any sportsperson. You are for me the greatest of all time,” Kohli added. He also put in a goat and a crown emoji to end his Instagram post.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmDIVYzPua7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmDIVYzPua7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmDIVYzPua7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmDIVYzPua7/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Ronaldo, a former Real Madrid player, reportedly disagreed with Santos' choice to sit him against Switzerland and Morocco. However, his fiancée Georgina Rodriguez criticised Santos for putting him on the bench for the first half of the match against Morocco. Ronaldo bowed his head in defeat and began the arduous journey to the tunnel at Al Thumama Stadium while wiping his eyes.</p>

<p>From the beginning of the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo has been the subject of several controversies. After a contentious interview with Piers Morgan that resulted in the termination of his contract with Premier League team Manchester United, he landed in Qatar. Ronaldo during the interview confirmed this will definitely be his last should Portugal lift the title. Naturally, Ronaldo's previous squad was the primary focus of the discussion, and when questioned about the Red Devils since his return in 2021, he was blunt. “At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion," Ronaldo said. It did stir a lot of controversies and now it will be interesting to watch which club will sign Ronaldo after the World Cup games in Qatar.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Cristiano Ronaldo exited the FIFA World Cup following a painful loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal, maybe for the final time. Portugal fans across the world were shattered after Ronaldo's exit from the big tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo exited the FIFA World Cup following a painful loss to Morocco in the quarterfinal, maybe for the final time. Portugal fans across the world were shattered after Ronaldo's exit from the big tournament. Miles apart, Indian batsman Virat Kohli has sent a moving tribute to the Portuguese football legend. Kohli called Ronaldo, GOAT - the greatest of all time, on his Instagram post on Monday. Kohli said that no trophy or any title can take anything from what Cristiano Ronaldo has done in this sport and for sports fans around the world. One of the best players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, might have participated in his final World Cup. Ronaldo has not been playing well in Qatar, scoring only one goal against Ghana. Portugal coach Fernando Santos benched his star player for Portugal's next two knockout games after replacing him in the team's loss to South Korea in the group stage. Santos responded to the criticism, said, despite the team's World Cup exit, he had no remorse in benching his best player Cristiano Ronaldo. Former Indian skipper Kohli recently completed his four-year quest for an ODI century against Bangladesh. Taking to Instagram, Kohli backed Ronaldo after his World Cup loss. He wrote, "No title can explain the impact you have had on people and what I and so many around the world feel when we watch you play. That is a gift from god." “A real blessing to a man who plays his heart out every single time and is the epitome of hard work and dedication and a true inspiration for any sportsperson. You are for me the greatest of all time,” Kohli added. He also put in a goat and a crown emoji to end his Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) × Ronaldo, a former Real Madrid player, reportedly disagreed with Santos' choice to sit him against Switzerland and Morocco. However, his fiancée Georgina Rodriguez criticised Santos for putting him on the bench for the first half of the match against Morocco. Ronaldo bowed his head in defeat and began the arduous journey to the tunnel at Al Thumama Stadium while wiping his eyes. From the beginning of the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo has been the subject of several controversies. After a contentious interview with Piers Morgan that resulted in the termination of his contract with Premier League team Manchester United, he landed in Qatar. Ronaldo during the interview confirmed this will definitely be his last should Portugal lift the title. Naturally, Ronaldo's previous squad was the primary focus of the discussion, and when questioned about the Red Devils since his return in 2021, he was blunt. “At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion," Ronaldo said. It did stir a lot of controversies and now it will be interesting to watch which club will sign Ronaldo after the World Cup games in Qatar.

Virat Kohli pens emotional post for Ronaldo after Portugal's painful FIFA World Cup 2022 loss against Morocco

Cristiano Ronaldo says his dream of winning a World Cup for Portugal has "ended", a day after his team’s crushing quarterfinal loss to Morocco.

Cristiano Ronaldo coy about his future as World Cup 'dream' ends

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidNgBWjPIfepcv" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Cristiano Ronaldo was a defeated man on Saturday. After Portugal crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably as his last dance on the world stage came to a premature end.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a video that has gone viral on social media platforms, an emotional Ronaldo can be seen walking off the pitch after the final whistle is blown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A fan that ran into the field clattered into Ronaldo, who seemed too preoccupied to even notice the impact. Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rarely has Ronaldo shown his vulnerable side on the football pitch and the&nbsp;fans were visibly upset after seeing one of the modern greats of the game bow out on such a sorry note.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ronaldo%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ronaldo𓃵</a><br />
Can't see him likee thiss heartbroken😞💔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ronaldo%F0%93%83%B5Crying?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ronaldo𓃵Crying</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/DWEiC4POmT">pic.twitter.com/DWEiC4POmT</a> <a href="https://t.co/H9jzaZHUUw">pic.twitter.com/H9jzaZHUUw</a></p>
— தகுதியட்ற கவிஞன்🚶🏻‍♂️ (@Drago58681858) <a href="https://twitter.com/Drago58681858/status/1601792066782081024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had all the more reasons to be sad as he was left out of the playing XI once again by manager Fernando Santos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ronaldo, playing his last World Cup wanted to sign off on a high. However, manager Santos preferred to keep him on the bench.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-morocco-defeat-cristiano-ronaldos-portugal-1-0-reach-semis-for-the-1st-time-541924"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time</strong></a></p>

<p>While the tactic worked in the pre-quarterfinal clash against Switzerland, the Moroccan defence proved too hard for the Portuguese side to unlock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Santos remained steadfast on his decision and at a post-match presser said he had 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets," said Santos in a post-match presser.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portugal-coach-santos-says-he-has-no-regrets-for-benching-ronaldo-541970" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo</strong></a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to reach the last-four stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Cristiano Ronaldo was a defeated man on Saturday. After Portugal crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably as his last dance on the world stage came to a premature end.

Cristiano Ronaldo was a defeated man on Saturday. After Portugal crashed out of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo broke down in tears and cried inconsolably as his last dance on the world stage came to a premature end. In a video that has gone viral on social media platforms, an emotional Ronaldo can be seen walking off the pitch after the final whistle is blown. A fan that ran into the field clattered into Ronaldo, who seemed too preoccupied to even notice the impact. Whilst heading down the tunnel, Ronaldo could be seen sobbing with his head down. Rarely has Ronaldo shown his vulnerable side on the football pitch and the fans were visibly upset after seeing one of the modern greats of the game bow out on such a sorry note. #Ronaldo𓃵 Can't see him likee thiss heartbroken😞💔#Ronaldo𓃵Crying #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DWEiC4POmT pic.twitter.com/H9jzaZHUUw — தகுதியட்ற கவிஞன்🚶🏻‍♂️ (@Drago58681858) December 11, 2022 × The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had all the more reasons to be sad as he was left out of the playing XI once again by manager Fernando Santos. Ronaldo, playing his last World Cup wanted to sign off on a high. However, manager Santos preferred to keep him on the bench. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time While the tactic worked in the pre-quarterfinal clash against Switzerland, the Moroccan defence proved too hard for the Portuguese side to unlock. However, Santos remained steadfast on his decision and at a post-match presser said he had 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo. “No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets," said Santos in a post-match presser. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo Meanwhile, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to reach the last-four stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo cries inconsolably after Portugal's World Cup exit

<p>Portugal manager Fernando Santos has once again courted controversy for his call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. Responding to the criticism, Santos said he had no regrets for benching his star player, despite the team crashing out of the World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets," said Santos in a post-match presser.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Santos revealed that he had a conversation with Ronaldo prior to the match where he explained his decision to the striker.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Yes we did have a conversation, and it would be very bad if we didn't have this. Since I took the helm of the national team we need to talk and have a relationship with players, it's normal, that's my approach, to have a close relationship."&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-morocco-defeat-cristiano-ronaldos-portugal-1-0-reach-semis-for-the-1st-time-541924"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time</strong></a></p>

<p>He added that Ronaldo was not happy at being left out of the playing XI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I explained to him that it was better for the strategy that he wouldn't start, and that it was better for him to play in the second half. Cristiano was not happy about it. He has always been a starting player. He asked 'do you think it's a good idea?'"</p>

<p>Morocco on Saturday continued their fairy run at the World Cup by advancing to the semifinal. In the process, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to ever reach this stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-portuguese-players-blame-argentine-referee-for-world-cup-exit-541963"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit</strong></a></p>

<p>Morocco opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with striker Youssef En-Nesyri netting one through a header. Afterwards, it was a defensive masterclass from nearly every Moroccan player as they resolutely defended their penalty box to keep Portugal at bay, despite Ronaldo coming on in the second half.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Portugal manager Fernando Santos has once again courted controversy for his call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. Responding to the criticism, Santos said he had no regrets for benching his star player, despite the team crashing out of the World Cup.

Portugal manager Fernando Santos has once again courted controversy for his call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench. Responding to the criticism, Santos said he had no regrets for benching his star player, despite the team crashing out of the World Cup. “No, I don’t think so, no regrets. Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets," said Santos in a post-match presser. Santos revealed that he had a conversation with Ronaldo prior to the match where he explained his decision to the striker. "Yes we did have a conversation, and it would be very bad if we didn't have this. Since I took the helm of the national team we need to talk and have a relationship with players, it's normal, that's my approach, to have a close relationship." Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time He added that Ronaldo was not happy at being left out of the playing XI. “I explained to him that it was better for the strategy that he wouldn't start, and that it was better for him to play in the second half. Cristiano was not happy about it. He has always been a starting player. He asked 'do you think it's a good idea?'" Morocco on Saturday continued their fairy run at the World Cup by advancing to the semifinal. In the process, Morocco became the first African nation in the World Cup's history to ever reach this stage. So far, the Morocco side is yet to concede a goal, having beaten the likes of Canada, Spain, Belgium and now Portugal in the process. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit Morocco opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with striker Youssef En-Nesyri netting one through a header. Afterwards, it was a defensive masterclass from nearly every Moroccan player as they resolutely defended their penalty box to keep Portugal at bay, despite Ronaldo coming on in the second half. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Portugal coach Santos says he has 'no regrets' for benching Ronaldo

<p>Portuguese player Bruno Fernandes has slammed the match officials after his side crashed out of the World Cup.&nbsp;Talking after the match,&nbsp;Fernandes said that Argentine&nbsp;referee Facundo Tello should not have been given the responsibility to officiate the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, 39-year-old Pepe also echoed his teammate's statements and added that the referee did not allow his side to play in the second half.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We dominated the game 100 per cent of the time, I think what the referee did today; this is an Argentinian referee. After what Messi said yesterday, it seems there's something very weird. We couldn't play in the second half because the referee kept stopping the game."</p>

<p>"Their goalkeeper was always stopped, only added eight minutes of injury time. After what I saw today, they can now give the title to Argentina.”</p>

<p>Notably, after Argentina's hard-fought victory over the Netherlands, Lionel Messi in an interview&nbsp;took a shot at&nbsp;referee&nbsp;Lahoz who handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the course of the match, setting a new record in the process.</p>

<p>"I don’t want to speak about referees because they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this.&nbsp;It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task," said Messi.</p>

<p>Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was blunt in his assessment of the referee and said,&nbsp; "Hopefully&nbsp;we don't have that ref anymore...He's useless!"</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-martinez-slam-referee-and-dutch-coach-after-tense-quarterfinal-win-541778"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win</strong></a></p>

<p>Portugal went into the match with an unchanged XI named by manager Fernando Santos. Ronaldo found himself on the bench again. However, unlike the game against Switzerland, Portugal's attack could not penetrate the water-tight defence of the Moroccans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The goal from&nbsp;Youssef En-Nesyri in the final minutes of the first half was enough for Morocco to see through the game and become the first African country to reach the final four stage of the World Cup.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Portuguese player Bruno Fernandes has slammed the match officials after his side crashed out of the World Cup. Talking after the match, Fernandes said that Argentine referee Facundo Tello should not have been given the responsibility to officiate the match.

Portuguese player Bruno Fernandes has slammed the match officials after his side crashed out of the World Cup. Talking after the match, Fernandes said that Argentine referee Facundo Tello should not have been given the responsibility to officiate the match. "I don't know if they're going to give the cup to Argentina. I don't care, I'm going to say what I think, and screw them. It's very strange that a referee from a team that's still in the cup officiates us. They've clearly tilted the field against us." Meanwhile, 39-year-old Pepe also echoed his teammate's statements and added that the referee did not allow his side to play in the second half. "We dominated the game 100 per cent of the time, I think what the referee did today; this is an Argentinian referee. After what Messi said yesterday, it seems there's something very weird. We couldn't play in the second half because the referee kept stopping the game." "Their goalkeeper was always stopped, only added eight minutes of injury time. After what I saw today, they can now give the title to Argentina.” Notably, after Argentina's hard-fought victory over the Netherlands, Lionel Messi in an interview took a shot at referee Lahoz who handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the course of the match, setting a new record in the process. "I don’t want to speak about referees because they will sanction you. But people saw what happened. I think FIFA must take care of this. It cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task," said Messi. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was blunt in his assessment of the referee and said, "Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore...He's useless!" Read more: Messi, Martinez slam referee and Dutch coach after tense quarterfinal win Portugal went into the match with an unchanged XI named by manager Fernando Santos. Ronaldo found himself on the bench again. However, unlike the game against Switzerland, Portugal's attack could not penetrate the water-tight defence of the Moroccans. The goal from Youssef En-Nesyri in the final minutes of the first half was enough for Morocco to see through the game and become the first African country to reach the final four stage of the World Cup. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Portuguese players blame 'Argentine' referee for World Cup exit

In pics | Cristiano Ronaldo's journey at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

<p>Morocco continued to produce excellent results in FIFA World Cup 2022 as on Saturday they stunned Portugal 1-0 to enter the semis for the very first time. With this win, Morocco became&nbsp;the third team after Croatia and Argentina to reach last four of this World Cup; besides, they also became the first African nation ever to reach this far in a FIFA World Cup. A header by striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the first half saw Morocco cruising ahead with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal bowing out of this edition.</p>

<p>The third quarterfinal of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Al Thumama Stadium got underway with a lot of buzz and noise all around the stadium. Though the news of star Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo starting on the bench broke many hearts, the fans didn’t shy away from treating the XI with delight. The first half saw the underdogs, Morocco dominating all throughout. They were brave in their approach, attacking in their style of play and above all looked confident.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/louis-van-gaal-leaves-netherlands-following-world-cup-last-8-exit-former-coach-ronald-koeman-replaces-him-541909">Louis Van Gaal leaves Netherlands following World Cup last-8 exit, former coach Ronald Koeman replaces him</a></p>

<p>Morocco opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with striker Youssef En-Nesyri netting one through a header. A lovely long cross from full-back Y.A Allah resulted in Nesyri giving a beautiful finish. The first half ended with Morocco leading 1-0.</p>

<p>The second half brought fresh energy into the game. Cristiano Ronaldo coming on a substitute sounded like celebration as he equalled the men's international world record of 196 caps, a record set by Kuwait international Bader Al-Mutawa. His inclusion saw Portugal changing gears immediately. They started to press more and even came close on creating chances.</p>

<p>However, a fruitful result didn’t look like coming despite top efforts. In the end, the star-studded Portugal was left dejected after going down 0-1 to 10-man Morocco. The 2016 Euro Cup winners knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2022, and with this, Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of winning a World Cup with Portugal also diminished.</p>


Morocco continued to produce excellent results in FIFA World Cup 2022 as on Saturday they stunned Portugal 1-0 to enter the semis for the very first time. With this win, Morocco became the third team after Croatia and Argentina to reach last four of this World Cup; besides, they also became the first African nation ever to reach this far in a FIFA World Cup.

Morocco continued to produce excellent results in FIFA World Cup 2022 as on Saturday they stunned Portugal 1-0 to enter the semis for the very first time. With this win, Morocco became the third team after Croatia and Argentina to reach last four of this World Cup; besides, they also became the first African nation ever to reach this far in a FIFA World Cup. A header by striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the first half saw Morocco cruising ahead with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal bowing out of this edition. The third quarterfinal of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Al Thumama Stadium got underway with a lot of buzz and noise all around the stadium. Though the news of star Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo starting on the bench broke many hearts, the fans didn’t shy away from treating the XI with delight. The first half saw the underdogs, Morocco dominating all throughout. They were brave in their approach, attacking in their style of play and above all looked confident. ALSO READ: Louis Van Gaal leaves Netherlands following World Cup last-8 exit, former coach Ronald Koeman replaces him Morocco opened the scoring in the 42nd minute with striker Youssef En-Nesyri netting one through a header. A lovely long cross from full-back Y.A Allah resulted in Nesyri giving a beautiful finish. The first half ended with Morocco leading 1-0. The second half brought fresh energy into the game. Cristiano Ronaldo coming on a substitute sounded like celebration as he equalled the men's international world record of 196 caps, a record set by Kuwait international Bader Al-Mutawa. His inclusion saw Portugal changing gears immediately. They started to press more and even came close on creating chances. However, a fruitful result didn’t look like coming despite top efforts. In the end, the star-studded Portugal was left dejected after going down 0-1 to 10-man Morocco. The 2016 Euro Cup winners knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2022, and with this, Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of winning a World Cup with Portugal also diminished.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco defeat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0, reach semis for the 1st time

<p>After a blockbuster opening to the quarterfinal round of the World Cup on Friday, the stage is set for another absorbing day of heavyweight contests. In the first quarterfinal of the day, Morocco will square up against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both teams come into the contest on the back of enterprising victories. While Morocco knocked out 2010 champions Spain in the round of 16 clash, Portugal obliterated Switzerland with an embarrassing-looking 6-1 scoreline.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morocco are the fourth African team to make it to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. They will be attempting to go one step ahead and rewrite the history books.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morocco kept Spain at bay as the match ended goalless after the regulation and extra time. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero during the shootout as none of the Spanish players could convert their spot kicks, thereby granting the quarterfinal ticket to Morocco.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Given their performances against teams like Belgium, Canada and Spain, it will not be a hyperbole to say that the African side has the potential to stun Portugal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for Portugal, the talking point ahead of the game will be the fortunes of its talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. In the pre-quarterfinal clash against Switzerland, manager Fernando Santos took the courageous call to bench Ronaldo and play 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos in his place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the noise off the field, Portugal did not miss the services of Ronaldo, as his replacement managed to bag a hattrick in his debut World Cup game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking after the match, Santos cleared that there was no bad blood and that the decision to drop Ronaldo was tactical. Santos added that he had a conversation with Ronaldo before the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two teams have previously met on two occasions in the World Cup. The last meeting was at the 2018 edition where Portugal came out on top with a 1-0 scoreline.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Head-to-head:&nbsp;</b></p>

<p><strong>June 11, 1986:</strong>&nbsp;Morocco 3-1 Portugal&nbsp;<br />
<strong>June 20, 2018:</strong>&nbsp;Morocco 0-1 Portugal&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-achraf-hakimis-ice-cool-panenka-penalty-to-knock-spain-out-of-the-world-cup-540849"><strong>WATCH | Achraf Hakimi's ice-cool 'panenka' penalty to knock Spain out of the World Cup</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Here's everything you need to know about QF3&nbsp;clash:</strong></p>

<h2><strong>What is the venue for&nbsp;Morocco vs Portugal match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></h2>

<p>Morocco vs Portugal quarter-final clash will be held at the Al Thumama Stadium.</p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The QF3&nbsp;will get underway at 20:30 PM IST on Saturday (December 10).</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>Football fans in India can enjoy the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup QF match on TV on&nbsp;<strong>Sports18</strong>&nbsp;and Sports18 HD channels. Meanwhile, the live streaming&nbsp;will be on&nbsp;<strong>Jio Cinema app</strong>&nbsp;or website.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


After a blockbuster opening to the quarterfinal round of the World Cup on Friday, the stage is set for another absorbing day of heavyweight contests. In the first quarterfinal of the day, Morocco will square up against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium.

After a blockbuster opening to the quarterfinal round of the World Cup on Friday, the stage is set for another absorbing day of heavyweight contests. In the first quarterfinal of the day, Morocco will square up against Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium. Both teams come into the contest on the back of enterprising victories. While Morocco knocked out 2010 champions Spain in the round of 16 clash, Portugal obliterated Switzerland with an embarrassing-looking 6-1 scoreline. Morocco are the fourth African team to make it to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. They will be attempting to go one step ahead and rewrite the history books. Morocco kept Spain at bay as the match ended goalless after the regulation and extra time. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero during the shootout as none of the Spanish players could convert their spot kicks, thereby granting the quarterfinal ticket to Morocco. Given their performances against teams like Belgium, Canada and Spain, it will not be a hyperbole to say that the African side has the potential to stun Portugal. As for Portugal, the talking point ahead of the game will be the fortunes of its talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. In the pre-quarterfinal clash against Switzerland, manager Fernando Santos took the courageous call to bench Ronaldo and play 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos in his place. Despite the noise off the field, Portugal did not miss the services of Ronaldo, as his replacement managed to bag a hattrick in his debut World Cup game. Speaking after the match, Santos cleared that there was no bad blood and that the decision to drop Ronaldo was tactical. Santos added that he had a conversation with Ronaldo before the game. The two teams have previously met on two occasions in the World Cup. The last meeting was at the 2018 edition where Portugal came out on top with a 1-0 scoreline. Head-to-head: June 11, 1986: Morocco 3-1 Portugal June 20, 2018: Morocco 0-1 Portugal WATCH | Achraf Hakimi's ice-cool 'panenka' penalty to knock Spain out of the World Cup Here's everything you need to know about QF3 clash: What is the venue for Morocco vs Portugal match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? Morocco vs Portugal quarter-final clash will be held at the Al Thumama Stadium. What time will the match be telecast in India? The QF3 will get underway at 20:30 PM IST on Saturday (December 10). Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? Football fans in India can enjoy the FIFA World Cup QF match on TV on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels. Meanwhile, the live streaming will be on Jio Cinema app or website. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Morocco vs Portugal FIFA World Cup QF 3 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch?

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidriAQDeyw9Zqx" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that he wanted Cristiano Ronaldo to stay and that he didn't know about his plans to leave the club, prior to the infamous Piers Morgan interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Dutch made the revelation in Spain where Manchester United are currently holding a camp ahead of the Premier league resumption.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>"</strong>I wanted him to stay from the first moment until now.&nbsp;He wanted to leave, it was quite clear. And when a player definitely doesn't want to be in this club then he has to go."</p>

<p>The former Ajax manager said he first came to know about Ronaldo's desire to leave the club after the release of the interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The interview was the first time he said he wanted to leave. I think as a club you can't accept that. There will be consequences. Before he [had] never told me."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hes-gone-erik-ten-hag-reacts-to-cristiano-ronaldos-ouster-from-man-united-after-explosive-claims-541164"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;'He’s gone...': Erik Ten Hag reacts to Cristiano Ronaldo's ouster from Man United after explosive claims</strong></a></p>

<p>The talks of Ronaldo's transfer had gathered pace during the transfer window before the beginning of the season. However, ten Hag maintains that Ronaldo never told him about his plans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In the summer we had one talk. He came in and said, 'I will tell you in seven days if I want to stay'. Then he came back and said, 'I want to stay'. Until that moment [the interview] I never heard anything."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-cristiano-ronaldo-moving-to-saudi-arabian-club-al-nassr-ex-man-united-strikes-finally-opens-up-540763" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up</strong></a></p>

<p>Ronaldo's&nbsp;tumultuous stay at Manchester United was more often than not plagued by questions surrounding his dwindling ability as a player.</p>

<p>Though the Portuguese fared relatively well in the last season, he could not break into ten Hag's plans as the Dutch employs&nbsp;a high-pressing game - a tactic that doesn't suit Ronaldo's game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the interview, Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually decided to part ways. Since then, the five-time Ballon d'Or player has been a free agent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rumours&nbsp;of him joining the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr have routinely come up but the 37-year-old has not yet confirmed the news.</p>

<p>Currently, Ronaldo is at the World Cup in Qatar representing his country and preparing for the quarterfinal clash against Morocco.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that he wanted Cristiano Ronaldo to stay and that he didn't know about his plans to leave the club, prior to the infamous Piers Morgan interview.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that he wanted Cristiano Ronaldo to stay and that he didn't know about his plans to leave the club, prior to the infamous Piers Morgan interview. The Dutch made the revelation in Spain where Manchester United are currently holding a camp ahead of the Premier league resumption. "I wanted him to stay from the first moment until now. He wanted to leave, it was quite clear. And when a player definitely doesn't want to be in this club then he has to go." The former Ajax manager said he first came to know about Ronaldo's desire to leave the club after the release of the interview. "The interview was the first time he said he wanted to leave. I think as a club you can't accept that. There will be consequences. Before he [had] never told me." Read more: 'He’s gone...': Erik Ten Hag reacts to Cristiano Ronaldo's ouster from Man United after explosive claims The talks of Ronaldo's transfer had gathered pace during the transfer window before the beginning of the season. However, ten Hag maintains that Ronaldo never told him about his plans. "In the summer we had one talk. He came in and said, 'I will tell you in seven days if I want to stay'. Then he came back and said, 'I want to stay'. Until that moment [the interview] I never heard anything." Read more: Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up Ronaldo's tumultuous stay at Manchester United was more often than not plagued by questions surrounding his dwindling ability as a player. Though the Portuguese fared relatively well in the last season, he could not break into ten Hag's plans as the Dutch employs a high-pressing game - a tactic that doesn't suit Ronaldo's game. After the interview, Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually decided to part ways. Since then, the five-time Ballon d'Or player has been a free agent. Rumours of him joining the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr have routinely come up but the 37-year-old has not yet confirmed the news. Currently, Ronaldo is at the World Cup in Qatar representing his country and preparing for the quarterfinal clash against Morocco. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'I wanted him to stay', reveals Erik ten Hag after Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit

<p>Ahead of Portugal's quarter-final clash versus Morocco in the FIFA World Cup, on December 10 (Saturday), Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence and finally reacted to reports of him threatening to leave the national squad for being benched in Round of 16 tie, versus Switzerland. During Portugal's R16 match versus the Swiss, captain Ronaldo didn't feature in the starting XI and only made an appearance in the 73rd minute in his side's 5-1 victory courtesy of his&nbsp;replacement Gancalo Ramos' stunning treble.</p>

<p>On Friday (December 08), the 37-year-old Ronaldo took to his official Twitter handle and shared a post captioned, "A group too close to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to let itself be frightened by any adversary. A team in the truest sense of the word, which will fight for the dream until the end! Believe with us! Strength, Portugal!"</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="pt">Um grupo demasiado unido para ser quebrado por forças externas. Uma nação demasiado corajosa para se deixar atemorizar perante qualquer adversário. Uma equipa no verdadeiro sentido da palavra, que vai lutar pelo sonho até ao fim! Acreditem connosco! Força, Portugal!🇵🇹🙏🏽 <a href="https://t.co/gUeENXSB5F">pic.twitter.com/gUeENXSB5F</a></p>
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano/status/1600839914719178753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-portugal-fa-reacts-to-rumours-of-cristiano-ronaldo-threatening-to-leave-squad-541324">FIFA World Cup: Portugal FA reacts to rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo threatening to leave squad</a></strong></p>

<p>Earlier, a&nbsp;statement from Portugal FA also backed Ronaldo by rubbishing claims against him,&nbsp;citing that he remains committed to the team as always. It&nbsp;read, "News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team. Incidentally, the degree of dedication of the player most capped by Portugal was again demonstrated - if necessary - in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The National Team - players, coaches, and FPF structure - is, as it has been since the first day, fully committed and enthusiastic in building what the country wants to be Portugal's best-ever participation in a World Cup," it added.</p>

<p>Ronaldo hasn't lived up to expectations in the ongoing edition so far. He, however, will hope to turn the tides in the upcoming games for the Portuguese line-up as the race for the final heats up with all big teams -- such as France, Brazil, Argentina, England, etc. -- still alive in the competition. Portugal take on Morocce in the quarters on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>


Ahead of Portugal's quarter-final clash versus Morocco in the FIFA World Cup, on December 10 (Saturday), Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence and finally reacted to reports of him threatening to leave the national squad for being benched in Round of 16 tie, versus Switzerland.

Ahead of Portugal's quarter-final clash versus Morocco in the FIFA World Cup, on December 10 (Saturday), Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence and finally reacted to reports of him threatening to leave the national squad for being benched in Round of 16 tie, versus Switzerland. During Portugal's R16 match versus the Swiss, captain Ronaldo didn't feature in the starting XI and only made an appearance in the 73rd minute in his side's 5-1 victory courtesy of his replacement Gancalo Ramos' stunning treble. On Friday (December 08), the 37-year-old Ronaldo took to his official Twitter handle and shared a post captioned, "A group too close to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to let itself be frightened by any adversary. A team in the truest sense of the word, which will fight for the dream until the end! Believe with us! Strength, Portugal!" Um grupo demasiado unido para ser quebrado por forças externas. Uma nação demasiado corajosa para se deixar atemorizar perante qualquer adversário. Uma equipa no verdadeiro sentido da palavra, que vai lutar pelo sonho até ao fim! Acreditem connosco! Força, Portugal!🇵🇹🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/gUeENXSB5F — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 8, 2022 × Also read: FIFA World Cup: Portugal FA reacts to rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo threatening to leave squad Earlier, a statement from Portugal FA also backed Ronaldo by rubbishing claims against him, citing that he remains committed to the team as always. It read, "News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar." "Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team. Incidentally, the degree of dedication of the player most capped by Portugal was again demonstrated - if necessary - in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The National Team - players, coaches, and FPF structure - is, as it has been since the first day, fully committed and enthusiastic in building what the country wants to be Portugal's best-ever participation in a World Cup," it added. Ronaldo hasn't lived up to expectations in the ongoing edition so far. He, however, will hope to turn the tides in the upcoming games for the Portuguese line-up as the race for the final heats up with all big teams -- such as France, Brazil, Argentina, England, etc. -- still alive in the competition. Portugal take on Morocce in the quarters on Saturday.

FIFA WC: Ronaldo reacts to reports of him threatening to leave Portugal squad for being benched in R16 tie

<p>Cristiano Ronaldo was upset when he was left out of Portugal's starting lineup against Switzerland but the conversation to drop him was completely normal and it is high time the world stopped focusing on the matter, coach Fernando Santos said on Friday. Ronaldo was benched as Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1 in the last 16. Later, the country's football federation had to publicly deny reports that their skipper had threatened to leave during the tournament after talking with Santos.</p>

<p>Portugal play surprise package Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday and a visibly frustrated Santos took great pains to explain what happened behind the scenes to put the issue to bed.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-is-happy-at-psg-likely-to-extend-his-stay-says-club-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-541570">Lionel Messi is happy at PSG, likely to extend his stay, says club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi</a></p>

<p>"He (Ronaldo) has never told me he wanted to leave our national team. It's high time we stopped talking about this conversation... It's high time to leave Ronaldo alone and acknowledge what he has done for Portuguese football," Santos said. "Yes, we did have a conversation... It needed to happen, it's part of our basis. I don't do that with all my players but he's the captain of our squad. You know what he represents for Portuguese football, the Portuguese people and national team.</p>

<p>"I invited him to my office (on matchday) and told him, 'Listen, you're not going to be one of the starters. In terms of strategy it's better if you are not on the field.' We expected the game to be difficult and I'd save him for the second half."</p>

<p>Ronaldo, the country's all-time top scorer, came on as a substitute and, though he did not score, Santos said he had been professional throughout by warming up with his team mates and celebrating each goal.</p>

<p>"Cristiano obviously wasn't very happy about it (being benched) because he's always been a starter ... and he asked me if it's a good idea," Santos added.</p>

<p>"But we had a normal conversation where I explained my viewpoints and, of course, he accepted. We had a frank and normal conversation."</p>

<p>Portugal will face Morocco in their quarterfinal clash on Saturday, December 10th.&nbsp;</p>


Cristiano Ronaldo was upset when he was left out of Portugal's starting lineup against Switzerland but the conversation to drop him was completely normal and it is high time the world stopped focusing on the matter, coach Fernando Santos said on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo was upset when he was left out of Portugal's starting lineup against Switzerland but the conversation to drop him was completely normal and it is high time the world stopped focusing on the matter, coach Fernando Santos said on Friday. Ronaldo was benched as Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1 in the last 16. Later, the country's football federation had to publicly deny reports that their skipper had threatened to leave during the tournament after talking with Santos. Portugal play surprise package Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday and a visibly frustrated Santos took great pains to explain what happened behind the scenes to put the issue to bed. ALSO READ: Lionel Messi is happy at PSG, likely to extend his stay, says club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi "He (Ronaldo) has never told me he wanted to leave our national team. It's high time we stopped talking about this conversation... It's high time to leave Ronaldo alone and acknowledge what he has done for Portuguese football," Santos said. "Yes, we did have a conversation... It needed to happen, it's part of our basis. I don't do that with all my players but he's the captain of our squad. You know what he represents for Portuguese football, the Portuguese people and national team. "I invited him to my office (on matchday) and told him, 'Listen, you're not going to be one of the starters. In terms of strategy it's better if you are not on the field.' We expected the game to be difficult and I'd save him for the second half." Ronaldo, the country's all-time top scorer, came on as a substitute and, though he did not score, Santos said he had been professional throughout by warming up with his team mates and celebrating each goal. "Cristiano obviously wasn't very happy about it (being benched) because he's always been a starter ... and he asked me if it's a good idea," Santos added. "But we had a normal conversation where I explained my viewpoints and, of course, he accepted. We had a frank and normal conversation." Portugal will face Morocco in their quarterfinal clash on Saturday, December 10th.

It's high time we stop talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, says Portugal coach ahead of Morocco game

Cristiano Ronaldo said that Portugal were “too united to be broken by outside forces” after it was reported he had threatened to walk out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after being benched against Switzerland.

Cristiano Ronaldo rubbishes walk out threat report

<p>It was a controversial end to Cristiano Ronaldo's second stint at Manchester United. After his explosive claims in a recent interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, where he slammed the Old Trafford club owners and came hard on team manager Erik Ten Hag, the 37-year-old Portugal star player was shown the door with his contract still not getting over. Ronaldo spoke at length on his equation with the Dutch manager and how he felt 'betrayed' by the treatment he received from the senior club executives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the situation became out of control, Ronaldo departed from the club where he had a memorable first stint, under Sir Alex Ferguson. Following his departure, Erik Ten Hag has finally opened up on his explosive interview. In an interview to MUTV, he said, "He’s gone and it’s the past. We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future. When you change things in an organisation and change the way of playing, that takes time. In top-level football, you never get time. Opponents they want to kill you and that happened. We had to quickly adapt and I think our squad did terrific. The mentality changed and I think our way of playing changed during the season, the style, and I think we are growing and we have to keep the process going.," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-cristiano-ronaldo-moving-to-saudi-arabian-club-al-nassr-ex-man-united-strikes-finally-opens-up-540763">Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up</a></strong></p>

<p>During his interview with Morgan, Ronaldo revealed he doesn't have any respect for Erik, under whom he hardly saw his name in the starting XI in the ongoing season and didn't make much impact for the Red Devils. He had stated, "I don't have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you. Not only the manager, but the other two or three guys who are around the club [at the senior executive level]. I felt betrayed. I don't care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn't want me here, not only this year but last season too."</p>

<p>Currently, Ronaldo is still on the lookout for a new club after leaving Man United. There were reports of him joining the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr but he recently denied all such claims during Portugal's FIFA World Cup Ronud of 16 clash versus Switzerland. Ronaldo-led Portugal play Morocco in the quarters on December 09 in Qatar.</p>


It was a controversial end to Cristiano Ronaldo's second stint at Manchester United. After his explosive claims in a recent interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, where he slammed the Old Trafford club owners and came hard on team manager Erik Ten Hag, the 37-year-old Portugal star player was shown the door with his contract still not getting over.

It was a controversial end to Cristiano Ronaldo's second stint at Manchester United. After his explosive claims in a recent interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, where he slammed the Old Trafford club owners and came hard on team manager Erik Ten Hag, the 37-year-old Portugal star player was shown the door with his contract still not getting over. Ronaldo spoke at length on his equation with the Dutch manager and how he felt 'betrayed' by the treatment he received from the senior club executives. As the situation became out of control, Ronaldo departed from the club where he had a memorable first stint, under Sir Alex Ferguson. Following his departure, Erik Ten Hag has finally opened up on his explosive interview. In an interview to MUTV, he said, "He’s gone and it’s the past. We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future. When you change things in an organisation and change the way of playing, that takes time. In top-level football, you never get time. Opponents they want to kill you and that happened. We had to quickly adapt and I think our squad did terrific. The mentality changed and I think our way of playing changed during the season, the style, and I think we are growing and we have to keep the process going.," he added. Also read: Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up During his interview with Morgan, Ronaldo revealed he doesn't have any respect for Erik, under whom he hardly saw his name in the starting XI in the ongoing season and didn't make much impact for the Red Devils. He had stated, "I don't have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you. Not only the manager, but the other two or three guys who are around the club [at the senior executive level]. I felt betrayed. I don't care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn't want me here, not only this year but last season too." Currently, Ronaldo is still on the lookout for a new club after leaving Man United. There were reports of him joining the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr but he recently denied all such claims during Portugal's FIFA World Cup Ronud of 16 clash versus Switzerland. Ronaldo-led Portugal play Morocco in the quarters on December 09 in Qatar.

'He’s gone...': Erik Ten Hag reacts to Cristiano Ronaldo's ouster from Man United after explosive claims

Coaches are no longer in the awe of star players. They are taking decisions in the interest of the team instead. Is this the start of a new era in sports? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Coaches no longer awestruck by star players?

<p>In Portugal's Round of 16 tie versus Switzerland in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, in Qatar, Portuguese coach Fernando Santos stunned one and all as the team's starting XI didn't comprise captain and superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo. A lot was said and written about his absence as the 37-year-old finally made an appearance in the 73rd minute but couldn't make any impact in his side's 6-1 thrashing of the Swiss line-up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ever since Ronaldo was benched versus Switzerland, reports have been doing the rounds that the star forward threatened to leave the Portugal camp after not being in the starting XI. During the game, he was seen celebrating his side's goals but was&nbsp;spotted heading towards the tunnel at the final whistle when his teammates were celebrating the victory with fans in the stadium. Now, the Portugal FA have brushed aside all such claims and stated that Ronaldo's commitment towards the team remains unquestionable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A statement from Portugal FA read, "News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-cristiano-ronaldo-moving-to-saudi-arabian-club-al-nassr-ex-man-united-strikes-finally-opens-up-540763">Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up</a></strong></p>

<p>"Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team. Incidentally, the degree of dedication of the player most capped by Portugal was again demonstrated - if necessary - in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The National Team - players, coaches, and FPF structure - is, as it has been since the first day, fully committed and enthusiastic in building what the country wants to be Portugal's best-ever participation in a World Cup," it added.</p>

<p>After the Portugal vs Swiss encounter, coach Santos opened up on the decision to bench Ronaldo. He said, "Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with the national team captain," Santos said. "It was strategic. Players are different. I also started Diogo Dalot, and Raphael Guerrero; however, Joao Cancelo is a fabulous player. That's what I thought for the game against Switzerland; in another game, it might be different."</p>

<p>In Ronaldo's absence, his replacement Gancalo Ramos led from the front with a hat-trick to take his side to a dominant win. Portugal is now gearing up to face the high-flying Morocco line-up in the quarters on December 10 (Friday).</p>


In Portugal's Round of 16 tie versus Switzerland in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, in Qatar, Portuguese coach Fernando Santos stunned one and all as the team's starting XI didn't comprise captain and superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

In Portugal's Round of 16 tie versus Switzerland in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, in Qatar, Portuguese coach Fernando Santos stunned one and all as the team's starting XI didn't comprise captain and superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo. A lot was said and written about his absence as the 37-year-old finally made an appearance in the 73rd minute but couldn't make any impact in his side's 6-1 thrashing of the Swiss line-up. Ever since Ronaldo was benched versus Switzerland, reports have been doing the rounds that the star forward threatened to leave the Portugal camp after not being in the starting XI. During the game, he was seen celebrating his side's goals but was spotted heading towards the tunnel at the final whistle when his teammates were celebrating the victory with fans in the stadium. Now, the Portugal FA have brushed aside all such claims and stated that Ronaldo's commitment towards the team remains unquestionable. A statement from Portugal FA read, "News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar." Also read: Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up "Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected and which attests to the unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team. Incidentally, the degree of dedication of the player most capped by Portugal was again demonstrated - if necessary - in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The National Team - players, coaches, and FPF structure - is, as it has been since the first day, fully committed and enthusiastic in building what the country wants to be Portugal's best-ever participation in a World Cup," it added. After the Portugal vs Swiss encounter, coach Santos opened up on the decision to bench Ronaldo. He said, "Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with the national team captain," Santos said. "It was strategic. Players are different. I also started Diogo Dalot, and Raphael Guerrero; however, Joao Cancelo is a fabulous player. That's what I thought for the game against Switzerland; in another game, it might be different." In Ronaldo's absence, his replacement Gancalo Ramos led from the front with a hat-trick to take his side to a dominant win. Portugal is now gearing up to face the high-flying Morocco line-up in the quarters on December 10 (Friday).

FIFA World Cup: Portugal FA reacts to rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo threatening to leave squad

Portuguese professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly said that he did not train with the substitutes on Wednesday. Watch this video to know more.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to train with substitutes

<p>Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't had the best of 2022. His turbulent second stint with Manchester United finally ended after his recent explosive claims against the Red Devils' owners and team manager Erik Ten Hag. After being released by the Old Trafford club, before his contract was to get over, there have been speculations regarding his next move. Many reports have linked the superstar footballer to several top clubs. It has been rumoured that the Portugal captain is making a move&nbsp;to Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p>In this regard, many media outlets, including Marca, reported that Ronaldo will stay in the Middle East after the FIFA World Cup and will join Saudi Arabian club&nbsp;Al-Nassr in January 2023. However, the ex-Man United striker finally reacted to all such claims and made a big statement.&nbsp;"No, it is not true," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Mais Futebol after Portugal's 6-1 win over Switzerland in the Round of 16 tie during the Qatar World Cup.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/unbelievable-ronaldo-on-the-verge-of-agreeing-to-a-whopping-eu400-million-deal-with-saudi-arabian-club-report-538799">UNBELIEVABLE! Ronaldo on the verge of agreeing to a whopping €400 million deal with Saudi Arabian club: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>It was reported by many portals that Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr would've made him the highest-paid player in the world. However, the 37-year-old has denied all such claims and it remains to be seen which club will be able to acquire his services after his fallout with Man United. In the ongoing EPL 2022/23 edition, he failed to get going and be a regular in the starting XI. On Wednesday (December 07), when Portugal faced the Swiss line-up in the World Cup, captain Ronaldo was benched, with his replacement Gancalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick,&nbsp;and only made an appearance in the 73rd minute.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the game, Portuguese coach Fernando Santos opined on Ronaldo being benched&nbsp;and said, "Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with the national team captain," Santos said. "It was strategic. Players are different. I also started Diogo Dalot, and Raphael Guerrero; however, Joao Cancelo is a fabulous player. That's what I thought for the game against Switzerland; in another game, it might be different," he asserted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Portugal will now face high-flying Morocco in the quarters on December 10 (Friday).</p>


Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't had the best of 2022. His turbulent second stint with Manchester United finally ended after his recent explosive claims against the Red Devils' owners and team manager Erik Ten Hag.

Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't had the best of 2022. His turbulent second stint with Manchester United finally ended after his recent explosive claims against the Red Devils' owners and team manager Erik Ten Hag. After being released by the Old Trafford club, before his contract was to get over, there have been speculations regarding his next move. Many reports have linked the superstar footballer to several top clubs. It has been rumoured that the Portugal captain is making a move to Saudi Arabia. In this regard, many media outlets, including Marca, reported that Ronaldo will stay in the Middle East after the FIFA World Cup and will join Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in January 2023. However, the ex-Man United striker finally reacted to all such claims and made a big statement. "No, it is not true," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Mais Futebol after Portugal's 6-1 win over Switzerland in the Round of 16 tie during the Qatar World Cup. Also read: UNBELIEVABLE! Ronaldo on the verge of agreeing to a whopping €400 million deal with Saudi Arabian club: Report It was reported by many portals that Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr would've made him the highest-paid player in the world. However, the 37-year-old has denied all such claims and it remains to be seen which club will be able to acquire his services after his fallout with Man United. In the ongoing EPL 2022/23 edition, he failed to get going and be a regular in the starting XI. On Wednesday (December 07), when Portugal faced the Swiss line-up in the World Cup, captain Ronaldo was benched, with his replacement Gancalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick, and only made an appearance in the 73rd minute. After the game, Portuguese coach Fernando Santos opined on Ronaldo being benched and said, "Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with the national team captain," Santos said. "It was strategic. Players are different. I also started Diogo Dalot, and Raphael Guerrero; however, Joao Cancelo is a fabulous player. That's what I thought for the game against Switzerland; in another game, it might be different," he asserted. Portugal will now face high-flying Morocco in the quarters on December 10 (Friday).

Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up

Portugal coach Fernando Santos benched skipper and all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo for their World Cup last-16 clash against Switzerland on Tuesday.

Portugal coach benches Cristiano Ronaldo against Switzerland

Cristiano Ronaldo may struggle to regain his place in the Portugal starting XI after seeing his replacement, 21-year-old Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, come into the team and net a hat-trick in the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday.

Goncalo Ramos nets a hat-trick in place of Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal romp

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidsotcz5kZbK0J" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend Georgina Gio and sister Elma Aveiro have gone on unhinged rants after the footballer was left out of playing XI in the match against Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup. Aveiro and Gio took to their respective Instagram accounts to post a lengthy tirade and take&nbsp;shots at Portugal coach Fernando Santos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Yes Ronaldo is not eternal, yes Ronaldo won’t play forever, unfortunately he doesn’t score goals now, he’s old, Portugal doesn’t need Ronaldo. We talked about what we heard, all that he did isn’t important, all that he did was forgotten," wrote Aveiro in the story.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We talked about what we heard, all that he did isn’t important, all that he did was forgotten.Now they ask for forgiveness and they don’t need him. I will register that and later we’ll talk."</p>

<p>Aveiro took a dig at Santos by saying, "Rui Santos, what will he apologise for? Now we we can f*** who we want."</p>

<p>She signed off her rant by stating, "It is a shame to humiliate a man who has given so much, but later I will see a lot more."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-cristiano-ronaldo-walks-off-the-pitch-while-teammates-celebrate-world-cup-victory-540866" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Cristiano Ronaldo walks off the pitch while teammates celebrate World Cup victory</strong></a></p>

<p>Ronaldo's girlfriend also shared her disappointment at Ronaldo's snub from the playing XI and launched a scathing attack on Santos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Congratulations Portugal. While the 11 players sang the anthem, all eyes were on you. What a shame not to have been able to enjoy the best player in the world for 90 minutes,” she captioned a photo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The fans did not stop asking for you and shouting your name . May God and your dear friend Fernando continue hand in hand and make us vibrate one more night.”</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1-pf0B-Ui/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1-pf0B-Ui/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1-pf0B-Ui/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1-pf0B-Ui/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Georgina Rodríguez (@georginagio)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Notably, an hour before kick-off at the Lusail Stadium where Portugal squared up against Switzerland in the round of 16 clash, manager Santos released his playing XI which instantly became a major talking point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Santos benched Ronaldo and replaced him with Benfica’s 21-year-old forward Goncalo Ramos. While some agreed with Santos' decision, the majority were miffed that not playing a player of the class of Ronaldo was disrespectful and that some trouble had brewed between the coach and the player.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the furore surrounding the selection choice, the Portuguese team managed to do just fine without their talisman. Ramos shone brightly as he bagged a hattrick on his World Cup debut, shushing the doubters in the process.</p>

<p>Ronaldo was subbed on after Portugal had a cushion of five goals. While Aveiro cussed Santos, the latter in the post-match conference cleared that all was well between him and Ronaldo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with our captain. We’ve been friends for years. We spoke before the game and he had no issue with my decision,” said Santos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Portugal have advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup and will now square up against Morocco on Saturday.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend Georgina Gio and sister Elma Aveiro have gone on unhinged rants after the footballer was left out of playing XI in the match against Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend Georgina Gio and sister Elma Aveiro have gone on unhinged rants after the footballer was left out of playing XI in the match against Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup. Aveiro and Gio took to their respective Instagram accounts to post a lengthy tirade and take shots at Portugal coach Fernando Santos. "Yes Ronaldo is not eternal, yes Ronaldo won’t play forever, unfortunately he doesn’t score goals now, he’s old, Portugal doesn’t need Ronaldo. We talked about what we heard, all that he did isn’t important, all that he did was forgotten," wrote Aveiro in the story. "We talked about what we heard, all that he did isn’t important, all that he did was forgotten.Now they ask for forgiveness and they don’t need him. I will register that and later we’ll talk." Aveiro took a dig at Santos by saying, "Rui Santos, what will he apologise for? Now we we can f*** who we want." She signed off her rant by stating, "It is a shame to humiliate a man who has given so much, but later I will see a lot more." WATCH | Cristiano Ronaldo walks off the pitch while teammates celebrate World Cup victory Ronaldo's girlfriend also shared her disappointment at Ronaldo's snub from the playing XI and launched a scathing attack on Santos. “Congratulations Portugal. While the 11 players sang the anthem, all eyes were on you. What a shame not to have been able to enjoy the best player in the world for 90 minutes,” she captioned a photo. “The fans did not stop asking for you and shouting your name . May God and your dear friend Fernando continue hand in hand and make us vibrate one more night.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Georgina Rodríguez (@georginagio) × Notably, an hour before kick-off at the Lusail Stadium where Portugal squared up against Switzerland in the round of 16 clash, manager Santos released his playing XI which instantly became a major talking point. Santos benched Ronaldo and replaced him with Benfica’s 21-year-old forward Goncalo Ramos. While some agreed with Santos' decision, the majority were miffed that not playing a player of the class of Ronaldo was disrespectful and that some trouble had brewed between the coach and the player. Despite the furore surrounding the selection choice, the Portuguese team managed to do just fine without their talisman. Ramos shone brightly as he bagged a hattrick on his World Cup debut, shushing the doubters in the process. Ronaldo was subbed on after Portugal had a cushion of five goals. While Aveiro cussed Santos, the latter in the post-match conference cleared that all was well between him and Ronaldo. “Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with our captain. We’ve been friends for years. We spoke before the game and he had no issue with my decision,” said Santos. Portugal have advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup and will now square up against Morocco on Saturday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

FIFA World Cup 2022: Ronaldo's girlfriend and sister target coach Santos after playing XI snub

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidzVEBVuLuek1R" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Cristiano Ronaldo has been an isolated figure at the club football level for the better part of this year. The national team appeared to be his sanctuary where he still had the pull and sway over the decisions. However, that mirage appears to have shattered after Portuguese coach Fernando Santos benched Ronaldo in the all-important knockout game against Switzerland on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, a post-match video has gone viral on the realms of internet which shows Ronaldo walking out of the pitch while his teammates applaud the crowd and celebrate with them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Ronaldo exited&nbsp;the pitch, his teammates neglected him and continue to soak in the admiration and applause of the Portuguese crowd. Another video of the incident showed Ronaldo thanking the crowd briefly on his own before walking off.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cristiano Ronaldo (left of picture) walks straight off while his teammates celebrate with fans. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/W7jB6iGQOO">pic.twitter.com/W7jB6iGQOO</a></p>
— Adriano Del Monte (@adriandelmonte) <a href="https://twitter.com/adriandelmonte/status/1600232837801979904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/1768EgTSJ5">pic.twitter.com/1768EgTSJ5</a></p>
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) <a href="https://twitter.com/CristianoXtra_/status/1600246066984931328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>An hour before the kick-off at the Lusail Stadium, manager Santos released his playing XI which instantly became a major talking point. Ronaldo being benched in a big game was seen as a bold call from Santos, who has often come under criticism for not utilising his side's total attacking prowess.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-cristiano-ronaldo-moving-to-saudi-arabian-club-al-nassr-ex-man-united-strikes-finally-opens-up-540763" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up</strong></a></p>

<p>While some agreed with Santos' decision, the majority were miffed that not playing a player of the class of Ronaldo was disrespectful&nbsp;and that some trouble had brewed between the coach and the player.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the noise off the field, Portugal did not miss Ronaldo as his replacement, 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos managed to bag a hattrick in his first-ever World Cup game. Ronaldo was only subbed on after Portugal had bagged five goals in the kitty.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking after the match, Santos cleared that there was no bad blood and that the decision to drop Ronaldo was tactical. Santos added that he had a conversation with Ronaldo before the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with our captain. We’ve been friends for years. We spoke before the game and he had no issue with my decision,” said Santos.</p>

<p>“I think Ronaldo and I never misinterpret the human and personal aspect with that of manager and player, and what we need to do during the match.&nbsp;That is what we will do. I will always consider he is a very important player to have in the team.”</p>

<p>Portugal have advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup and will now square up against Morocco on Saturday. The 'Atlas Lions' also booked their quarterfinals ticket after&nbsp;knocking out 2010 champions' Spain on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Cristiano Ronaldo has been an isolated figure at the club football level for the better part of this year. The national team appeared to be his sanctuary where he still had the pull and sway over the decisions.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been an isolated figure at the club football level for the better part of this year. The national team appeared to be his sanctuary where he still had the pull and sway over the decisions. However, that mirage appears to have shattered after Portuguese coach Fernando Santos benched Ronaldo in the all-important knockout game against Switzerland on Tuesday. Now, a post-match video has gone viral on the realms of internet which shows Ronaldo walking out of the pitch while his teammates applaud the crowd and celebrate with them. While Ronaldo exited the pitch, his teammates neglected him and continue to soak in the admiration and applause of the Portuguese crowd. Another video of the incident showed Ronaldo thanking the crowd briefly on his own before walking off. Cristiano Ronaldo (left of picture) walks straight off while his teammates celebrate with fans. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/W7jB6iGQOO — Adriano Del Monte (@adriandelmonte) December 6, 2022 × pic.twitter.com/1768EgTSJ5 — CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) December 6, 2022 × An hour before the kick-off at the Lusail Stadium, manager Santos released his playing XI which instantly became a major talking point. Ronaldo being benched in a big game was seen as a bold call from Santos, who has often come under criticism for not utilising his side's total attacking prowess. Read more: Is Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr? Ex-Man United striker finally opens up While some agreed with Santos' decision, the majority were miffed that not playing a player of the class of Ronaldo was disrespectful and that some trouble had brewed between the coach and the player. Despite the noise off the field, Portugal did not miss Ronaldo as his replacement, 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos managed to bag a hattrick in his first-ever World Cup game. Ronaldo was only subbed on after Portugal had bagged five goals in the kitty. Speaking after the match, Santos cleared that there was no bad blood and that the decision to drop Ronaldo was tactical. Santos added that he had a conversation with Ronaldo before the game. “Cristiano and Ramos are different players. There is no problem with our captain. We’ve been friends for years. We spoke before the game and he had no issue with my decision,” said Santos. “I think Ronaldo and I never misinterpret the human and personal aspect with that of manager and player, and what we need to do during the match. That is what we will do. I will always consider he is a very important player to have in the team.” Portugal have advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup and will now square up against Morocco on Saturday. The 'Atlas Lions' also booked their quarterfinals ticket after knocking out 2010 champions' Spain on Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Cristiano Ronaldo walks off the pitch while teammates celebrate World Cup victory

<p>The action continues in the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition with Portugal taking on Switzerland in the Round of 16 clash on Wednesday. After the likes of Argentina, France, England, Croatia, Netherlands have booked a spot in the quarter-finals, the onus will now be on Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Portugal line-up to get the better of the Swiss team.</p>

<p>Talking about Portugal, they reached the Round of 16 with wins over Uruguay and Ghana before going down to South Korea, who have bowed out of the competition with 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brazil in their R-16 clash. Meanwhile, Switzerland defeated Cameroon and Serbia and lost to Brazil, by 1-0 deficit, to reach this far. They can certainly challenge the Portuguese line-up and rely on&nbsp;Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler to&nbsp;play the anchors, from&nbsp;the midfield with Vargas and Shaqiri opearing from the flanks. Breel Embolo has been their in-form player and will like to come good once again.</p>

<p>From Portugal, the onus will definitely be on Ronaldo,&nbsp;Diogo Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix. Overall, an exciting battle is surely on the cards.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-brazil-pay-rich-tribute-to-legend-pele-after-defeating-south-korea-to-book-fifa-wc-quarter-final-ticket-540513"><strong>WATCH: Brazil pay rich tribute to legend Pele after defeating South Korea to book FIFA WC quarter-final ticket</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>When is the Portugal vs Switzerland R16 match of the FIFA World Cup 2022?</strong></h2>

<p>The Round of 16 match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played between&nbsp;Portugal vs Switzerland&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Lusail Stadium.</p>

<h2><strong>What time will the match be telecast in India?</strong></h2>

<p>The match will commence at 12:30 AM IST on Wednesday&nbsp;(December 07).</p>

<h2><strong>Where can we watch the match live:&nbsp;Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India?</strong></h2>

<p>Football fans, in India, can enjoy the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup games&nbsp;on <strong>Sports18</strong>&nbsp;and Sports18 HD channels on TV. Meanwhile, the live streaming of the&nbsp;proceedings will be on&nbsp;<strong>Jio Cinema app</strong>&nbsp;or website.&nbsp;</p>


The action continues in the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition with Portugal taking on Switzerland in the Round of 16 clash on Wednesday. After the likes of Argentina, France, England, Croatia, Netherlands have booked a spot in the quarter-finals, the onus will now be on Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Portugal line-up to get the better of the Swiss team.

The action continues in the FIFA World Cup 2022 edition with Portugal taking on Switzerland in the Round of 16 clash on Wednesday. After the likes of Argentina, France, England, Croatia, Netherlands have booked a spot in the quarter-finals, the onus will now be on Cristiano Ronaldo-starrer Portugal line-up to get the better of the Swiss team. Talking about Portugal, they reached the Round of 16 with wins over Uruguay and Ghana before going down to South Korea, who have bowed out of the competition with 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brazil in their R-16 clash. Meanwhile, Switzerland defeated Cameroon and Serbia and lost to Brazil, by 1-0 deficit, to reach this far. They can certainly challenge the Portuguese line-up and rely on Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler to play the anchors, from the midfield with Vargas and Shaqiri opearing from the flanks. Breel Embolo has been their in-form player and will like to come good once again. From Portugal, the onus will definitely be on Ronaldo, Diogo Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix. Overall, an exciting battle is surely on the cards. Also read: WATCH: Brazil pay rich tribute to legend Pele after defeating South Korea to book FIFA WC quarter-final ticket When is the Portugal vs Switzerland R16 match of the FIFA World Cup 2022? The Round of 16 match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be played between Portugal vs Switzerland at the Lusail Stadium. What time will the match be telecast in India? The match will commence at 12:30 AM IST on Wednesday (December 07). Where can we watch the match live: Broadcast TV and OTT Channel in India? Football fans, in India, can enjoy the FIFA World Cup games on Sports18 and Sports18 HD channels on TV. Meanwhile, the live streaming of the proceedings will be on Jio Cinema app or website.

FIFA WC, R16 Broadcast TV and OTT-Live Streaming: When and where to watch Portugal vs Switzerland?

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidZAaeSXFpeC5t" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>If media reports are to be believed, Cristiano Ronaldo is all set to move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after agreeing on a two-year deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Ronaldo is set to put pen to paper on a $212 million per season deal (€200 million). He will be joining the club in January after the talks of a deal being 'close' first emerged in November.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The initial deal is expected to be around $105 million but will be beefed up through advertisements and sponsorship deals.&nbsp;If the deal is completed, it will be one of the most lucrative in sports history, rivalling that of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-cristiano-ronaldo-named-in-the-worst-team-of-world-cup-group-stage-539802" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Cristiano Ronaldo named in the worst team of World Cup group stage</strong></a></p>

<p>The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been a free agent ever since having an acrimonious breakup with Manchester United.&nbsp;</p>

<p>37-year-old Ronaldo's tumultuous return to Manchester United came to a close last month after he gave an explosive interview to British journalist Piers Morgan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ronald took a no-holds-barred approach in the interview and laid it bare how he was treated at Manchester United and how the club had been in a rut for years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Days after the interview, both parties decided to part ways by a mutual agreement with immediate effect.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early,” Ronaldo said on his official accounts. “I love Manchester United, and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-to-leave-manchester-united-with-immediate-effect-536561" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with immediate effect</strong></a></p>

<p>While Ronaldo fared relatively well in the last season for the Red Devils, he could not break into Erik&nbsp;Ten Hag's plans as the Dutchman preferred to play a high-pressing game which did not suit the ageing Portuguese.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the beginning of the season, news of Ronaldo being unhappy at the club had been making the waves. During United's 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, Ronaldo refused to take the pitch and walked off before the final whistle. His last match for United came against Aston Villa where the team suffered a 3-1 defeat under his captaincy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


If media reports are to be believed, Cristiano Ronaldo is all set to move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after agreeing on a two-year deal. According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Ronaldo is set to put pen to paper on a $212 million per season deal (€200 million).

If media reports are to be believed, Cristiano Ronaldo is all set to move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after agreeing on a two-year deal. According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Ronaldo is set to put pen to paper on a $212 million per season deal (€200 million). He will be joining the club in January after the talks of a deal being 'close' first emerged in November. The initial deal is expected to be around $105 million but will be beefed up through advertisements and sponsorship deals. If the deal is completed, it will be one of the most lucrative in sports history, rivalling that of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Cristiano Ronaldo named in the worst team of World Cup group stage The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been a free agent ever since having an acrimonious breakup with Manchester United. 37-year-old Ronaldo's tumultuous return to Manchester United came to a close last month after he gave an explosive interview to British journalist Piers Morgan. Ronald took a no-holds-barred approach in the interview and laid it bare how he was treated at Manchester United and how the club had been in a rut for years. Days after the interview, both parties decided to part ways by a mutual agreement with immediate effect. “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early,” Ronaldo said on his official accounts. “I love Manchester United, and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.” Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with immediate effect While Ronaldo fared relatively well in the last season for the Red Devils, he could not break into Erik Ten Hag's plans as the Dutchman preferred to play a high-pressing game which did not suit the ageing Portuguese. Since the beginning of the season, news of Ronaldo being unhappy at the club had been making the waves. During United's 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, Ronaldo refused to take the pitch and walked off before the final whistle. His last match for United came against Aston Villa where the team suffered a 3-1 defeat under his captaincy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Cristiano Ronaldo to join Saudi Arabian club for a record $200 million fees: Report

<p>The Argentinean great&nbsp;Lionel Messi has gone past Diego Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo in scoring the most goals in FIFA World Cups. Following his superb performance against Australia in the pre-quarterfinal clash on Saturday night, where Messi scored one goal, his ninth overall in World Cups, he surpassed Ronaldo and Maradona’s tally of eight goals each in the tournament. What’s the cherry on the cake? Messi achieved this feat in his 1000th career game. Besides, this was also the first time Messi scored a goal in the knockout stage of the World Cups.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022its-a-war-australia-coach-graham-arnold-not-intimidated-with-argentina-challenge-539668">Argentina vs Australia clash wasn’t just a match, it was supposed to be a&nbsp;'war’, as stated by Australia’s coach Graham Arnold</a> ahead of the game. It, however, didn’t go that way. Argentina in the opening half had most of the possession, they even created a few chances early on. In the 35th minute of the match came a moment that sent the world into a crazy party mode with Lionel Messi scoring the first goal through a fantastic shot from just outside the box.</p>

<p>With the 1-0 lead, Argentina were&nbsp;all over their opponents. In the second half, striker Julian Alvarez made it 2-0 for the tournament favourites, almost cementing his side’s place in the next round. Australia though managed to hit one goal later, the match ended with Argentina winning the contest 2-1.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2022-maestro-messi-sends-australia-packing-as-argentina-into-last-eight-539812">FIFA World Cup 2022: Maestro Messi sends Australia packing as Argentina into last eight</a></p>

<p>Post-game, Messi in a media interaction talked about this particular achievement and seemed grateful for it. He even said the match wasn’t easy as they had to really work hard to get that win.</p>

<p>“I am very happy for taking another step forward, achieving another objective," Messi said during a post-match interaction with the media.</p>

<p>“It was a very strong and difficult match — we knew it was going to be this way. We didn’t have much time to rest up and we were concerned as we knew it was going to be a physical match and they were very strong," he added.</p>

<p>Argentina will now face the Netherlands in their quarterfinal clash on Saturday, December 10th.</p>


The Argentinean great Lionel Messi has gone past Diego Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo in scoring the most goals in FIFA World Cups. Following his superb performance against Australia in the pre-quarterfinal clash on Saturday night, where Messi scored one goal, his ninth overall in World Cups, he surpassed Ronaldo and Maradona’s tally of eight goals each in the tournament.

The Argentinean great Lionel Messi has gone past Diego Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo in scoring the most goals in FIFA World Cups. Following his superb performance against Australia in the pre-quarterfinal clash on Saturday night, where Messi scored one goal, his ninth overall in World Cups, he surpassed Ronaldo and Maradona’s tally of eight goals each in the tournament. What’s the cherry on the cake? Messi achieved this feat in his 1000th career game. Besides, this was also the first time Messi scored a goal in the knockout stage of the World Cups. Argentina vs Australia clash wasn’t just a match, it was supposed to be a 'war’, as stated by Australia’s coach Graham Arnold ahead of the game. It, however, didn’t go that way. Argentina in the opening half had most of the possession, they even created a few chances early on. In the 35th minute of the match came a moment that sent the world into a crazy party mode with Lionel Messi scoring the first goal through a fantastic shot from just outside the box. With the 1-0 lead, Argentina were all over their opponents. In the second half, striker Julian Alvarez made it 2-0 for the tournament favourites, almost cementing his side’s place in the next round. Australia though managed to hit one goal later, the match ended with Argentina winning the contest 2-1. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2022: Maestro Messi sends Australia packing as Argentina into last eight Post-game, Messi in a media interaction talked about this particular achievement and seemed grateful for it. He even said the match wasn’t easy as they had to really work hard to get that win. “I am very happy for taking another step forward, achieving another objective," Messi said during a post-match interaction with the media. “It was a very strong and difficult match — we knew it was going to be this way. We didn’t have much time to rest up and we were concerned as we knew it was going to be a physical match and they were very strong," he added. Argentina will now face the Netherlands in their quarterfinal clash on Saturday, December 10th.

Record Alert! Lionel Messi overtakes Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona on World Cup goal tally

cristiano-ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo, News on Cristiano Ronaldo, stories on Cristiano Ronaldo, articles on Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo stories at Wion, Cristiano Ronaldo news, Cristiano Ronaldo latest news

cristiano ronaldo