Ronaldo accosted by pitch invader, left in tears after Portugal exit World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo was relegated to the bench, accosted by a pitch invader and left in tears as Portugal was knocked out of the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a night to forget. Pictures: AFP, Twitter

This might be it for Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

Morocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals as Youssef En-Nesyri’s first-half goal sealed a tense 1-0 victory over Portugal on Sunday.

The Atlas Lions, also the first Arab team to make the last four, added Portugal to their list of European scalps with a resolute second-half performance.

“It’s barely believable,” the SBS commentator said.

Ronaldo has likely played his last World Cup match after making an ineffectual appearance as a second-half substitute, failing to score his first knockout-phase goal at the tournament.

“Knowing his mentality, if he had played every game and started in this team, there is every chance he comes back at 41,” former Matildas player Sarah Walsh said in the SBS studio.

“But in the end he turned into a bit-part player. He didn’t have the same energy. He got in behind once. Even his touch didn’t look all that good inside areas. Unfortunately I think that is the last time we see him on the biggest stage. Even at the Euros (in two years) might be a stretch.”

Ronaldo was in tears as he walked straight off the pitch without appearing to congratulate any of the Moroccan players and was also accosted by a pitch invader that was dragged away by security.

Cristiano Ronaldo walks down the tunnel in TEARS after Portugal out of the World Cup by Morocco 1-0pic.twitter.com/H5fH6UxgJu#Ronaldo#Morocco#FIFAWorldCup#Qatar2022

— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) December 10, 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo first player off the pitch, don’t think he even noticed the pitch invader. Straight down the tunnel in tears. That’s his World Cup dream over. pic.twitter.com/oFHHQC3Oub

— Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) December 10, 2022

He leaves Qatar having failed to correct one of the most glaring absences from his almost unrivalled resume.

Not only has he failed to lift football’s most famous trophy but he has also failed to score in all eight of his knockout stage appearances at the World Cup — a scoreless stretch of 570 minutes in which he took 27 shots.

Morocco took a 42nd-minute lead through En-Nesyri’s header as they came on strongly late in the first period.

Portugal piled on the pressure after the break but an injury-hit Morocco, without three of their four first-choice defenders once skipper Romain Saiss was forced off, hung on despite being reduced to 10 men in added time.

“They went into the game without Aguerd and Mazraoui ... Saiss went out with an injury. Three of the back four had not played. Ziyech went off injured. Everything

that could go wrong did,” former Socceroo Robbie Cornthwaite said in the SBS studio. “But this is a team united. An incredible result for world football.”

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo was a shattered man. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)

Morocco's players carry their coach Walid Regragui as they celebrate. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was named man-of-the-match. “Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming,” Bounou told reporters.

“These moments are great, but we’re here to change the mentality. This feeling of inferiority ... we have indeed changed this mentality, and the generation coming after us will know that Moroccan players can create miracles.”

The partisan crowd undoubtedly helped the North Africans over the line, although Portugal struggled to create many clear-cut chances.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo was sent on early in the second half by coach Fernando Santos but could not rescue the Euro 2016 winners.

Instead it was another famous day for Morocco, after previous upset wins over Belgium and Spain, on penalties, in Qatar.

Walid Regragui’s men will face England or holders France in the semi-finals at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday.

Morocco will believe they can topple either of those sides, having still only conceded once at this World Cup.

Is this the end of Ronaldo’s international career? (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Morocco's forward Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates his goal. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Portugal enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening half-hour, but Joao Felix’s fifth-minute diving header, saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, was the closest either side came to an early goal.

Morocco always looked dangerous, though, and Selim Amallah ballooned a shot over and Sofiane Boufal curled straight at Diogo Costa for the Africans.

It was no surprise when Morocco did forge ahead shortly before the interval. Portuguese goalkeeper Costa came for a cross from left-back Yahya Attiat-Allah he was never going to get to and Sevilla striker En-Nesyri did the rest with a towering header.

Portugal almost equalised seconds later in spectacular fashion when Bruno Fernandes crashed a bouncing ball from the right-hand side of the box against the crossbar.

A crazy few minutes before half-time also saw Attiat-Allah, only playing in place of the injured Noussair Mazraoui, blaze wide after another rapid counter.

Portugal’s players were still appealing for a penalty after Fernandes threw himself to the ground under pressure from Achraf Hakimi at the other end.

Morocco almost doubled their advantage four minutes after the restart as Costa just about managed to prevent Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick from the right from flying all the way in.

Youssef En-Nesyri - the man of the moment. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Santos wasted little time in summoning for his captain, sending on Ronaldo and Joao Cancelo in the 51st minute.

Ronaldo equalled the men’s international world record of 196 selections when he came on.

The 37-year-old matched the record set by Kuwait international Bader Al-Mutawa.

Morocco, already without injured defenders Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd, were dealt another blow when Saiss was stretchered off.

Portugal started to lay siege to the opposition goal and Fernandes came close to levelling again when he fired narrowly over from the edge of the box.

Morocco were largely keeping Portugal at bay, but Bounou had to be at his best to tip over Felix’s drive with eight minutes remaining.

Eight minutes of injury time were largely spent with Portugal camped in the Morocco half and Ronaldo almost had his moment when his low strike was kept out by Bounou.

Morocco substitute Walid Cheddira was harshly sent off for a second yellow card in the space of two minutes.

Zakaria Aboukhlal should have put the game to bed only to dink straight at Costa when clean through.

But his team somehow held onto their lead to write their names in the history books as Pepe headed wide from close range right at the death.

Morocco surpassed the three other African sides to reach the quarter-finals — Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.

— with AFP