World Cup

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World Cup | Last 16

Dec 6, 2022 at 7pm UK

Lusail Iconic Stadium

Portugal
6 - 1
Switzerland

Ramos (17', 51', 67'), Pepe (33'), Guerreiro (55'), Leao (90+2')

FT(HT: 2-0)

Akanji (58')
Schar (43'), Comert (59')

World Cup 2022: Why not to expect a Cristiano Ronaldo goal against Switzerland

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 05 December 2022

Ahead of Tuesday's World Cup 2022 last-16 clash between Portugal and Switzerland, Sports Mole looks at why not to expect Cristiano Ronaldo to score.

Portugal will aim to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for only the third time when they tackle Switzerland at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Tuesday's last-16 clash.

A Selecao recorded back-to-back wins over Ghana and Uruguay to seal qualification from Group H, although a much-changed side then fell to a 2-1 loss to South Korea on the final day.

Meanwhile, the Rossocrociati opened their Group G campaign with victory over Switzerland before going down to Brazil 1-0, but a thrilling 3-2 win over Serbia confirmed their second-placed finish.

Portugal have only ever reached the World Cup quarter-finals on two previous occasions, doing so in 1966 and 2006, the first of which represented Cristiano Ronaldo's first World Cup with A Selecao.

The 37-year-old has since taken part in five tournaments for his country and scored in all five - becoming the only men's player in history to score in a quintet of World Cups.

Amid his search for a new club following his acrimonious exit from Manchester United, Ronaldo scored from the spot in Portugal's opening win over Ghana to take his total goals at the World Cup to eight.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Ghana at the World Cup on November 24, 2022 © Reuters

However, all eight of Ronaldo's goals in the World Cup have come in the group stage, with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner yet to score in a knockout match at the biggest global event.

A 21-year-old Ronaldo was already a mainstay of the Portugal side at the 2006 World Cup, where A Selecao progressed past the Netherlands and England before back-to-back losses to France in the semi-finals and Germany in the third-placed playoff.

Ronaldo scored the winning penalty in the quarter-final shootout against England but did not find the net in normal or extra time from any of those games, and Portugal then lost 1-0 to Spain in the last 16 in 2010.

After failing to make it out of the groups in 2014, Portugal returned to the knockout phase in 2018, where Fernando Santos's men faced off against Uruguay in the last 16 but fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Pepe came up with the consolation for Portugal that day, and all that Ronaldo had to show for his efforts across the 90 minutes was a yellow card, and he has now had 25 shots without scoring in the knockout phase.

Ronaldo and long-time rival Lionel Messi both previously shared the record of having the most World Cup group-stage goals without scoring once in the knockouts, but Messi broke that barren run with his strike against Australia at the weekend.

Ronaldo has therefore conceded defeat to the Argentine in that race and would certainly love to replicate Messi's recent knockout endeavours, but do not be surprised to see the free agent draw another blank against a team who have beaten Portugal more times (11) than A Selecao have beaten them (nine).