Cristiano Ronaldo Named Man of the Match in Portugal vs Croatia, Fans Express Disbelief
The Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw Portugal and Croatia locked in a gripping contest. The first half ended without a breakthrough, but the second half delivered plenty of drama for soccer enthusiasts.
Ivan Perisic struck first for Croatia in the 53rd minute, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to level the score with a penalty—his first-ever knockout stage goal at a World Cup. The match concluded in stoppage time when Goncalo Ramos headed in the winner, sending Portugal through to face Spain in the next round.
Mixed Reactions to Ronaldo’s Man of the Match Award
At 41 years old, Ronaldo remains Portugal's leading striker, but fans were taken aback when he received the man of the match honor. Despite his crucial penalty, many felt his overall performance was underwhelming, especially since he was substituted late in the game.
"Sorry, but what? What the actual f___ did he do?" one frustrated fan wrote. Another chimed in, "What nonsense is this!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo winning man of the match is a disgrace to the establishment," a third commented. Others argued that Diogo Costa or Goncalo Ramos deserved the award more. "This is not well deserved for real," another fan remarked.
Despite the backlash, Ronaldo’s goal was pivotal. Still, teammates like Rafael Leao, Goncalo Ramos, and Diogo Costa arguably outshined him throughout the match.
