Cristiano Ronaldo created World Cup history as Portugal opened their Qatar 2022 campaign with a 3-2 win over Ghana in a thrilling Group H match at the Stadium 974 on 24 November.
Ronaldo scored a penalty to become the first player to score in five World Cup appearances against Ghana and give Portugal a 1–0 lead in the 65th minute. Andre Ayew equalized in the 73rd minute, sending the Ghanaian fans to the 974 stadium. Five minutes later, João Félix restored Portugal’s lead, and then Ronaldo showed his class with an astute run before sliding past Rafael Leao, leaving the Ghanaian stunned.
Portugal survived nine minutes of stoppage time to win their opening World Cup game for the first time in their last four matches thanks to an 89th-minute header from Osman Bukhari.
He has scored in every tournament since his first World Cup goal in 2006, when he converted a penalty against Iran in the group stage. Ronaldo scored one goal at the South Africa 2010 World Cup, one at the Brazil 2014 World Cup and four at the Russia 2018 World Cup. Ronaldo also extended his record for men’s international goals, bringing it to 118.
Earlier, Portugal dominated Ghana but were unable to score in the first half despite Cristiano Ronaldo having the ball in the net and missing two early chances. Ronaldo may have scored two goals within the first 15 minutes, but he wasted both chances. In the 31st minute, when the referee blew his whistle for an infringement against him, he scored from close range.