8th World Cup Final Goal and 118th International Tournament Goal with Ghana PK
5 Consecutive World Cup Appearances Since 2006 Germany Tournament
Man Utd Effectively Releases Ronaldo Ahead of Contract Ending June Next Year
[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] There is a player who has scored goals in all five World Cup tournaments over an impressive span of 16 years. That player is Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, who achieved participation in five consecutive World Cups starting from the 2006 Germany tournament, has played a total of 18 World Cup matches and scored 8 goals. Notably, Ronaldo scored in each of the five World Cups, setting a record that no one had achieved before.
On the 24th (local time), Ronaldo broke the 0-0 deadlock with a penalty kick in the 20th minute of the second half during the Group H first match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup against Ghana at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar.
Celebrating with his signature 'Hoo' celebration, Ronaldo was selected as the 'Man of the Match' by fan votes after Portugal's 3-2 victory and attended the official press conference.
Ronaldo said, "This is a beautiful moment. I participated in my fifth World Cup, and the team won, so it was a good start." He added, "I know the first match in the World Cup is very important, so I think this is a very important victory." He continued, "I am proud to be the first player to score in five World Cups. It was a tough match, but I am happy that the team achieved a good result."
However, when asked about his separation from Manchester United (Man Utd), Ronaldo's tone and expression immediately changed. He said, "A chapter ends this week. That is now closed. We started the tournament with a win, and I was able to help the team. Everything else does not matter," then stood up with a stern expression and left the press conference room. The press conference ended in about two minutes.
Earlier, on the 23rd (Korean time), Man Utd officially announced the termination of their contract with Ronaldo through the club's official website and other channels. Although Man Utd did not disclose specific reasons for the contract termination, they effectively decided to release him despite the contract running until June next year.
Since joining Man Utd, Ronaldo has been involved in continuous controversies. Last summer, even before the transfer market opened, he declared early on that he wanted to leave the team and sought his next destination but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, he missed preseason training and overseas tours one after another, drawing criticism from fans.
Moreover, during the season, he was involved in a controversy for slapping the back of a young fan's hand, which led to accusations of assault. The controversy sparked by his interview with Piers Morgan has yet to subside.
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