Cristiano Ronaldo exits 2022 FIFA World Cup with an unwanted record

Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid for a first ever World Cup title win was ended on Saturday evening when Portugal lost 1-0 to Morocco at the quarterfinal stage.

The 37 year was subbed on for the second consecutive game in the competition and ended his journey with an unwanted record.

The former Manchester United player has now failed to score in all eight of his knockout stage appearances at the World Cup (including third place play-off), going 570 minutes without scoring and taking 27 shots in the process.

Morocco’s win however made the north African country the first African team to qualify for the semi-final of a World Cup tournament – each of the previous three African sides to reach a quarter-final were all eliminated at this stage (Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010).

Morocco’s goalie, Yassine Bounou also made history as the first African goalkeeper to record three clean sheets in a single edition of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane captained England for the 11th time in a World Cup final tournament to become the first man to reach 11 games as captain for the Three Lions in World Cup history.

England teenager, Jude Bellingham is now the youngest player to start a World Cup quarter-final for England (19 years, 164 days) – the previous youngest was Wayne Rooney vs Portugal in 2006 (20 years, 250 days).

On the same night, France captain, Hugo Lloris played his 143rd game for the Les Bleus to become the most capped French player.