FIFA confirms Cristiano Ronaldo did not score Portugal’s opener via match-ball technology

FIFA has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t score Portugal’s opening goal against Uruguay via the match-ball technology. Portugal’s midfielder Bruno Fernandes provided the cross for Ronaldo and the team’s captain claimed the goal in the 54th minute on Monday.

However, the technology showed that there was no contact from Ronaldo’s head on the ball, FIFA and ball manufacturers Adidas have confirmed as reported by ESPN.

Bruno Fernandes also scored the second goal for Portugal in injury time when he scored from the spot after earning the penalty.

“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,” read a statement provided to ESPN from FIFA on behalf of Adidas.

“No external force on the ball could be measured as shown by the lack of ‘heartbeat’ in our measurements. The 500Hz IMU sensor inside the ball allows us to be highly accurate in our analysis.”

Meanwhile, Fernandes was not aware that Ronaldo had not touched the ball and he revealed he celebrated as if the veteran had scored.

“I celebrated [the goal] as if it had been Cristiano’s goal,” Fernandes said in his postmatch interview. “It seemed to me that he had touched the ball. My aim was to cross the ball for him.

“We are happy with the victory regardless of who scored. The most important thing is that we achieved our aim, which is to be in the next round.”

Bruno Fernandes was awarded the Player of the match for his fine show as he scored a brace for Portugal, which confirmed their knockout berth.

Portugal will next take on South Korea on 2nd December at the Education City Stadium.