Cristiano Ronaldo fluffed his lines after Portugal were awarded a penalty just six minutes into Sunday’s Nations League quarter-final clash with Denmark, who led 1-0 on aggregate
Cristiano Ronaldo was ruthlessly mocked online after missing the ‘worst penalty’ of his career – but he had the last laugh as Portugal reached the Nations League semi-finals. Ronaldo, 40, was back representing his country on Sunday, as Roberto Martinez’s faced Denmark.
Portugal were trailing 1-0 on aggregate following a defeat to the Danes in Copenhagen on Thursday. The second leg took place in Lisbon and Portugal only had to wait six minutes for the chance to level the tie.
New Manchester United signing Patrick Dorgu was adjudged to have pushed Ronaldo inside the box and VAR upheld referee Slavko Vincic’s on-field decision. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner placed the ball down in search of his 136th international goal.
Stuttering his run-up, Ronaldo waited for Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to move. Schmeichel, though, didn’t budge and instead forced Ronaldo into quick decision.
But rather than blasting the ball in from 12 yards, as he has done throughout his career, the Al-Nassr striker lightly hit the ball to Schmeichel’s left and it was easy save for the Celtic man. Ronaldo immediately looked to regret his change of run-up, as Denmark celebrated his misfortune.
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Clips of Ronaldo’s miss quickly made their way onto social media and the mocking began. “That is the worst penalty I have seen in a while,” one fan posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“Ronaldo’s missed penalty is the worst penalty he has ever taken,” another said. A third asked: “What was he thinking?”. Fans also noticed how United captain Bruno Fernandes raised his arms in what appeared to be a pre-emptive celebration while Ronaldo was still on his run-up.
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Fortunately for the pair, they combined – albeit inadvertently – in the second half, restoring Portugal’s lead on the night after the teams both had scored in the opening 45. Fernandes’ strike hit the post before cannoning back off the unwitting Schmeichel.
Ronaldo was the only player to follow in and he got his rewards, slamming home from a tight angle and making it 2-1. Portugal had taken the lead in the first half through a Joachim Andersen own goal before Rasmus Kristensen equalised just before the hour mark.
Unfortunately for Ronaldo, his former United team-mate, Christian Eriksen, struck moments later to nudge Denmark back into the lead on aggregate. But there was more drama to come, as Francisco Trincao scored for Portugal just five minutes after coming on and sent the game into extra-time
With Ronaldo having been substituted, super-sub Trincao scored again before Goncalo Ramos wrapped things up in the second period. Portugal will face hosts Germany in the Nations League semi-finals in June, competing for a place in the final against either Spain or France.
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