Cristiano Ronaldo once again became the focus at the 2026 World Cup. The free kick situation in the 17th minute was the moment that fans discussed the most after the match.
A few minutes earlier, Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal, and also became the first player to score in 6 different World Cups. In the context that Lionel Messi is leading the scoring list of the tournament, all eyes continue to be on Ronaldo every time he appears in front of the opponent's goal.
When Portugal was awarded a free kick right near the penalty area, a familiar scenario immediately appeared. Ronaldo stood in front of the ball, adjusted his position, focused on observing the goal and performing preparation movements that have been too familiar to fans for many years.
Television cameras continuously focused on Ronaldo. In the stands, thousands of fans were also ready to record the anticipated moment when many people believed that the 41-year-old striker was about to score another super free kick.
However, the actual diễn biến is completely different. Right after the referee's whistle, the person who took the shot was not Ronaldo but Nuno Mendes. The Portuguese winger launched an accurate finish into the net, increasing the score to 2-0.
Just a few seconds later, Ronaldo immediately became a topic on social networks. The video recorded from the stands shows that he contributed to distracting the Uzbekistan defense by attracting all attention before his teammate took a free kick.
After the goal, Ronaldo celebrated with Nuno Mendes, pointing his finger at his head. Many fans believe that this is how he emphasizes the success of a combination plan that was prepared in advance.
Although he did not directly score in this situation, Ronaldo still became the most mentioned person.
