In a shocking turn of events, five-time Player Cristiano Ronaldo was supposed to have a record-breaking goal on Monday, Nov. 28, as Portugal scores its opening goal against Uruguay in the FIFA World Cup 2022.

However, this was not the case since the goal was not credited to Ronaldo, as reported first by CNN.

(Photo : Lars Baron/Getty Images)
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - NOVEMBER 28: Cristiano Ronaldo in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at Lusail Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

The most well-known soccer player in the world claimed his head touched the ball during the opening goal against the opposition in the match on Monday. 

Ronaldo scored his second goal in as many games, giving Portugal their ninth World Cup victory, until a shocking announcement. 

The stadium announcer said that Ronaldo did not score the goal but instead it was Bruno Fernandes'. 

Fernandes attempted to cross for Ronaldo during the game, but instead of doing so, he appeared to flick the ball over his head and into the "record-breaking" goal. 

Even Fernandes was perplexed about the announcement and believed that Ronaldo was the one who touched the ball. 

FIFA's Official Statement

"In the match between Portugal and Uruguay, using the Connected Ball Technology housed in Adidas's Al Rihla Official Match Ball, we are able to definitively show no contact on the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo for the opening goal in the game," FIFA said in a statement that was shared to various media outlets on Tuesday.

"No external force on the ball could be measured as shown by the lack of 'heartbeat' in the measurements. The 500Hz IMU sensor inside the ball allows for a high level of accuracy in the analysis."

The World Cup's ball manufacturer, Adidas, also confirmed FIFA's statement after it told CNN that its technology proved that Ronaldo did not touch the ball. 

Fernandes said in his postgame interview that he celebrated the goal as if it had been Cristiano's cross and explained that he aimed to cross the ball for him and appeared that he touched the ball. 

However, he clarifies that the team is still happy regardless of who scored the goal and that they are now setting their focus on the next round.

Portugal manager Fernando Santos did not comment on the confusing turn of events but said that he was happy with how the game turned out. 

Read Also: Qatar's Stadium for 2022 World Cup is 100% Dismountable and Made of Recycled Materials

World Cup Ball: Al Rihla

FIFA unveiled Al Rihla, the official ball for the World Cup in Qatar, in March 2022. 

Interesting Engineering reports that It is the fastest, most accurate football in the world that can make decisions on the biggest sporting stages with more speed and accuracy thanks to its cutting-edge sensor technology and VAR 2.0. 

The system automatically delivers precise information, 500 times per second, when a player touches the ball. This information is used to detect unclear touches and to help with difficult offside rulings, ultimately increasing the speed of VAR decision-making. 

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