Cristiano Ronaldo has FEEBLE penalty saved for Portugal in Nations League clash with Denmark – hours after 40-year-old hit out at reporters for ‘disrespectful’ questions over his international future
Cristiano Ronaldo’s struggles for Portugal continued on Sunday evening, as the 40-year-old missed a penalty just six minutes into his side’s Nations League clash against Denmark.
Ronaldo’s blunder came hours after he lashed out at reporters for asking ‘disrespectful’ questions over his future with the national team.
‘Honestly, some of the questions you’ve asked were just disrespectful. If you want answers from me, look me in the eyes when you ask,’ Ronaldo told reporters after he was asked if he is still capable of completing a full match at the international level.
After Ronaldo was brought down by Manchester United full back Patrick Dorgu in the fifth minute of Portugal’s clash with Denmark on Sunday, he stepped up to take the spot kick.
However, the Al-Nassr frontman uncharacteristically rolled the ball into the goalkeeper’s arms with a tame effort towards the right side of the goal.
Ronaldo, who has scored 135 goals for his country, came under some intense heat from the press for his performance in last week’s first leg against Denmark, where Portugal put in an abject display to lose 1-0.
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a shocking penalty during a Nations League clash with Denmark
The miss comes just hours after the 40-year-old snapped at a journalist for asking if he is still capable of completing a full match at the international level
Fans took to social media to react to Ronaldo’s uncharacteristic miss from the penalty spot
And, after his penalty miss on Sunday, fans once again questioned whether football’s all-time top goalscorer still has enough tread on his tyres to hack it at the top level.
One fan wrote on X: ‘That’s one of the worst penalty kicks I’ve ever seen from Cristiano Ronaldo.’
Another wrote: ‘RETIRE OLD MAN THIS IS IT. THAT’S THE WORST PENALTY I HAVE EVER SEEN FROM A FOOTBALLER.’
A third asked: ‘What’s wrong with Ronaldo?’
Portugal have endured a tough year under Roberto Martinez after being knocked out of Euro 2024 at the quarter-final stage.
Ronaldo did not manage a single goal at the tournament and questions have been asked over his position in the side ever since.
Despite the heavy scrutiny towards Ronaldo of late, he remains the joint-fourth top scorer in this rendition of the Nations League, with five goals.
Victory for Portugal in the competition would see Ronaldo lift the third piece of silverware with his national team, having won Euro 2016 and the Nations League in its inaugural showing in 2019.
