Cristiano Ronaldo had a regrettable miss in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Nigeria in a friendly match early on the morning of June 11.
Right from the start of the match, coach Roberto Martinez fielded a strong lineup with Ronaldo leading the attack. However, the 41-year-old striker experienced an off day. In both halves, the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner had one-on-one chances against the Nigerian goalkeeper but could not convert them into goals.
Ronaldo’s unbelievable miss came right in the 9th minute. Receiving a cross from a teammate, CR7 faced the Nigerian goalkeeper but shot wide of the target.
On social media, many fans mocked Ronaldo’s missed opportunity. One account wrote: “Is he washed up?”. Another fan commented: “Ronaldo is no longer as sharp as before.” Another fan spoke out: “Ronaldo needs to be more clinical with his chances at the World Cup.”
In this match, Ronaldo played for 64 minutes before being substituted to make way for Goncalo Ramos. During his time on the pitch, CR7 did not score or assist. He created one goal-scoring opportunity for his teammates and missed three clear-cut chances, according to statistics from FotMob.
This is Portugal’s second consecutive friendly victory after overcoming Chile with the same 2-1 scoreline a few days ago. Coach Roberto Martinez and his team will enter the 2026 World Cup with great confidence, placed in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
