Goalkeeper Diogo Costa’s blunder nearly denied Cristiano Ronaldo the perfect start to his fifth World Cup, but the captain wasn’t mad at his team-mate.
After the final whistle of the match against Ghana, the Portugal superstar went to his keeper and put a comforting arm around his shoulder. “We won, it’s ok,” Ronaldo told him. Videos of the scene after Portugal’s close 3: 2 at the start of the World Cup circulated on social networks and in Portuguese media.
“You have to laugh, we won,” Ronaldo challenged the 23-year-old. “Was it a goal? Did you concede a goal?” asked Ronaldo, who scored the goal to make it 1-0 and is now the first footballer to score in five World Cups. In Qatar, Ronaldo wants to win the World Cup trophy and thus the last major international title that is still missing.
However, the start of this project almost failed shortly before the end. Costa rolled the ball in the ninth minute of added time, missing Inaki Williams, who started behind him. However, the Ghanaian could not control the ball and missed the huge chance to make it 3:3, which is why Portugal saved the lead to the finish. Ronaldo had already been substituted and grabbed his head in horror on the touchline.