[imagesource: Twitter / @ESPNFC]
Morocco has become one of the first African teams to make it into the semi-finals of the World Cup 2022.
Unfortunately, to do so, they had to dump out Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarter-finals.
Portugal was the top favourites to advance to the semi-finals thanks to their impressive demolition of Switzerland on December 6.
In that game, Ronaldo was left on the bench after being dropped by coach Fernando Santos because of his reaction to being substituted against South Korea in that win over the Swiss.
He was again named on the bench for the game against Morocco but was thrown in at the start of the second half.
Despite being on the field, Youssef En-Nesyri got the only goal in a dramatic 1-0 win at Al Thumama Stadium and denied Portugal what would have been a place in the last four for the first time in 16 years, notes ESPN.
Unable to turn the tide in Portugal’s favour, Ronaldo did not take the knock lightly, exiting the pitch with tears streaming:
That mf wanted a photo while Ronaldo was crying what a dickhead pic.twitter.com/1H1MEadLcp
— Madrid Buzz (@MadridBuzz) December 10, 2022
Ronaldo crying as be with you by ateez plays pic.twitter.com/PvNQ5coot2
— kath (@wooyoxx) December 10, 2022
New Ronaldo crying reaction meme just dropped
pic.twitter.com/gtid2tSz6F— Nae (@NaeNaeTakes) December 10, 2022
#Ronaldo
Can’t see him likee thiss heartbroken#RonaldoCrying #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DWEiC4POmT pic.twitter.com/H9jzaZHUUw— தகுதியட்ற கவிஞன்♂️ (@Drago58681858) December 11, 2022
Shame. Here’s more from Eurosport:
“That man is upset, but the fact of the matter is it is not about him tonight,” Ally McCoist said on commentary for ITV. “His time has been, it is all about Morocco this evening.”
At 37 years of age and no longer the heartbeat and talisman of the side, the next World Cup in North America is probably beyond Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, what Morocco achieved in Qatar has been described as remarkable:
Their shock victory at Al Thumama — just days after surprising Spain in the second round — was played out amid an atmosphere of loud whistles every time Portugal had the ball. And they had it a lot — touching 80% possession at different points in the game — but Morocco defended well and, particularly in the first half, made the most of their chances to break quickly.
The miraculous goal comes in at the 50-second mark in this highlights video:
Moment when Morocco goal !! Celebrations
MOROCCO vs PORTUGALmany congratulation morocco #CR7 #Nasiriyah #Messi #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/C6SGQ2rA7R
— Moon Afridi (@imoon_afridi) December 11, 2022
Big congrats, Morocco. Sorry for your loss, Ronaldo.
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