[Saba Sports News] In the World Cup Round of 16, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty to help Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 and advance to the knockout stage. After the game, Ronaldo was named Player of the Match, a decision that sparked massive controversy. Major media outlets and fans criticised Ronaldo, claiming he had stolen the MVP award from his teammates. Ronaldo turned in an underwhelming performance in this fixture and was substituted off while the score was still level. By all accounts, he barely featured in the game and failed to make any decisive impact inside the penalty area. One fine goal he scored was ruled out for offside, and aside from his penalty, he had no other notable contributions. He also lacked presence when pressing defensively, registering just one successful tackle with zero interceptions. His performance was far from worthy of the Player of the Match accolade, which marks the second time he has received the honour at this World Cup.
The editor believes that if any player from Portugal deserves this award, it is undoubtedly Diogo Costa. Portugal’s qualification for the Round of 16 was largely down to the goalkeeper’s heroic display. He repeatedly stopped Croatia from extending their lead and pulled off five crucial saves.