Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score Portugal’s first goal in their 2-0 World Cup win over Uruguay, according to Adidas technology inside the match ball.
Ronaldo claimed he had the slightest touch with his head on Bruno Fernandes’ cross to put Portugal ahead as they celebrated jubilantly, but FIFA then awarded Fernandes the goal.
The Manchester United midfielder, however, credited Ronaldo with the goal as he told reporters afterwards: “The feeling I had was that Cristiano had touched the ball.”
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Portugal coach Fernando Santos laughs when asked if he cares who scores for his side after Bruno Fernandes scored a goal against Uruguay after he initially appeared to ice his head by Cristiano Ronaldo.
But Adidas have now proven that the 37-year-old never hit Fernandes’ cross with a catch inside the ball.
A statement from Adidas read: “Thanks to the Connected Ball technology built into the official adidas Al Rihla match ball, we are able to show definitively no contact on Cristiano Ronaldo’s ball for the first goal of the game.
“No external force on the ball could be measured, as shown by the absence of a ‘heartbeat’ in the measurements and in the attached graph.
“The 500Hz IMU sensor inside the ball allows a high level of precision in the analysis.”
Adidas’ findings denied Ronaldo a ninth World Cup goal that would have put him level with Eusebio for Portugal.
In pictures: How tech shows Ronaldo didn’t hit Fernandes’ cross
What they said: | “I thought Ronaldo had touched the ball”
Speaking after the match, Fernandes said he believed his former Manchester United team-mate had been hit.
“The feeling I had was that Cristiano was touching the ball,” said the midfielder. “I was passing the ball to him. What matters is that we go through to the next round after facing a very tough opponent.”
Manager Fernando Santos, meanwhile, laughed off the question during a press conference.
“I think it was a great match,” he replied only. “Our team played very well and the rest for me doesn’t matter.”
Ronaldo didn’t speak to reporters after the game.
With victory on Monday night, Portugal are through to the round of 16 but still need a point against South Korea on Friday to be declared Group H winners.
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