Ronaldo and Messi are constantly compared, so when Messi missed a penalty in Argentina's clash with Iceland, it was used as a stick to beat the Barcelona forward with.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, was in ferocious form in Portugal's opening games, scoring four goals in two. Therefore, when the Real Madrid man won a penalty in the final group game against Iran, the Cristiano brigade were on the edge of their seats.
The penalty was won by Ronaldo himself, who was brought down by Saeid Ezatolahi in the box, and although it was initially waved away, VAR got involved and awarded a spot kick.
Ronaldo is famed for his lethal eye for goal and winning mentality, which made it a big surprise when he failed to convert. He fired it low with power, but the shot was too close to the centre of the goal, and the keeper managed to get down low to save it.
Portugal were already one goal up thanks to Ricardo Quaresma, meaning the miss was less important than it could have been, but the European champions missed out on the chance to tighten their grip on the game.
June 25, 2018