Cristiano Ronaldo receives lowest rating from Portuguese press
Following the draw against Colombia, Portuguese newspaper 'A Bola' heavily criticized Cristiano Ronaldo's performance, giving him the lowest rating on the pitch.
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Cristiano Ronaldo has come under fire from the Portuguese press following the conclusion of the World Cup group stage. In the decisive match against Colombia, which ended in a goalless draw, the Portuguese talisman delivered a lackluster performance, earning a rating of just 4 from the influential newspaper 'A Bola'.
Journalists highlighted the forward's passivity and lack of dangerous attempts on goal. A defining moment was a missed chance while one-on-one with goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, although the play was later flagged for offside. Regardless, critics were left unsatisfied with the captain's contribution over the full 90 minutes.
This marks Ronaldo's second disappointing display in the tournament, following a quiet appearance against the DR Congo. His standout performance remains the brace he scored against Uzbekistan earlier in the group stage.
Conversely, goalkeeper Diogo Costa received high praise from the Portuguese media. His series of decisive saves kept Portugal in the game against a tough Colombian side, earning him an 8 rating, with the publication summarizing his efforts as: "He saved everything."
With the draw, Portugal finished second in their group, failing to meet pre-match expectations. They now look ahead to a 1/16 final clash against Croatia, to be held next Thursday, July 2, at 20:00 (Brasilia time) in Toronto.