The FIFA 2018 world Cup started on the 14th of June with an opening ceremony and a an opening game. 3 games followed on the 15th but the Portugal vs Spain cracker which also doubled as the last game of match day two made all 3 games before it seem like friendlies.
The fixture between European champions, Portugal, a side with 5 times Baloon D’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo as the only ‘top class’ talent against a star studded Spanish side stuffed with players from some of the best clubs in Europe most of which are Ronaldo’s team mates at Real Madrid was so pulsating, it felt more like a quarter, a semi or even a finals that a group stage match but then, we could use some stimulation.
This game of 22 players which recorded 6 goals ended with the attention of all football lovers on just one player, the Portuguese skipper who once again left both his admirers and critics in awe as he scored 3 out of the 6 goals.
Less than 4 minutes into the game, Spanish defender Nacho tipped his Real Madrid team mate Ronaldo in the 18 yard box and a penalty was awarded. A penalty which Ronaldo converted smoothly putting Portugal a goal up in the 4th minute of the. A 24th minute goal from Diego Costa put the Spaniards back in the game. Spanish keeper, David De Gea was unable to stop a one hopper from Ronaldo at the peak of half time as he put the Selecao back in the lead just before the break.
Diego Costa seemed to have been designated for one purpose, to cancel Ronaldo’s goal(s) a job he was carrying out smoothly before he got substituted later on in the game. A 55th minute goal from him levelled the scoreline and got the Spaniards energized as Nacho pulled a 58th minute stunner and gave the Spaniards a 3-2 lead all the way into the last minutes of the game, until what would have been a pleasing scoreline for the La Roja got changed in the 88th minute after Cristiano Ronaldo sent in a spectacular free kick which was awarded following a foul on him by Pique, leveling the game, breaking records and setting a benchmark for other players in the world Cup.
His 4th minute opener already broke the record of fastest world Cup goal since 1966 and made him the fourth player to score in 4 world cup finals having scored in 2006, 2010 and 2014. Only Brazil’s Pele and German duo of Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose can boast of same achievement. His 3rd goal recorded his 51st career hat-trick and also made him the oldest player to hit a triple in the World Cup at age 33 years and 130 days breaking Dutchman Rob Rensembrink’s record who was nearly 31 at the 1978 World Cup.
Cristiano has now scored in Eight consecutive major international tournaments including World Cups, European championships and Copa America, a feat no European or south American player has ever achieved.
Ronaldo scoring the 51st hat-trick in World Cup history simply means ‘WAR’ as football lovers will be hoping to see fellow 5 times Baloon D’or winner and rival Lionel Messi who is also at the World Cup stand up to the challenge and add more juice to the almost 10 years of the Ronaldo/Messi dominance in modern day football.
The Argentines will be up against Iceland later today in their first group B game and seeing that Ronaldo is already the leading goal scorer with 3 goals in one match, all eyes will be on the Argentine hitman, Lionel Messi.
Let the battle for greatness continue!
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