In the first 45 minutes of Portugal’s final World Cup group match against South Korea, Cristiano Ronaldo had a nightmare moment and was dubbed a coward online.
The 37-year-old turned his back on a cross with the ball bouncing to the opposition earlier in the competition, becoming the first player to ever score at five different World Cups.
Before the ball fell to Kim Young-gwon, who offset Ricardo Horta’s opening goal, the free agent turned his head in disbelief that his teammates had failed to clear the delivery.
After that, Ronaldo’s detractors turned to social media, with one tweeting: “Ronaldo is such a coward, scared of the ball.”
Another wrote, “Ronaldo assist too,” in jest. A third concurred, saying, “Ronaldo is actually done.”
“Ronaldo, what the hell were you trying to do when the corner came in,” said the fourth.
Portugal, who had defeated Ghana and South Korea, had already advanced to the round of 16, and they anticipated facing the Group G runner-up.
After their first two games, in which Ronaldo scored a penalty and failed to claim a goal scored by Bruno Fernandes, respectively, he had been the subject of much discussion.
The former Juventus and Real Madrid forward made headlines for his explosive Piers Morgan interview, which resulted in the end of his tenure at Manchester United.
Ronaldo said in his first World Cup press conference: “I am bulletproof – I wear an iron suit.
“In my life, the best timing is always my timing. I don’t have to think about what other people think. I speak when I want.
“The players know me really well for many years and know the type of person I am and what I believe in.”