The five-time Ballon d’Or, international since August 2003, has always broken its teeth on the French defense in 450 minutes played against it. AFP PHOTO – AFP
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He scored against 43 different caps, but never against France in six games. At 36, Cristiano Ronaldo (107 goals in 177 caps) sets out to assault a new challenge on Wednesday during France-Portugal (9:00 p.m.) in the first round of the Euro.
The five-time Ballon d’Or, international since August 2003, has always broken its teeth on the French defense in 450 minutes played against it.
X-ray of these previous failures, from first to last:
The loudest
World Cup semi-final on July 5, 2006 in Munich: Portugal – France 0-1 (playing time: 94 minutes)
At 21, Ronaldo is shouted the entire match by the Allianz Arena, which accuses him of his devilish smile after the exclusion in the quarter-finals of the Englishman Wayne Rooney, partner at Manchester United. Insensitive to whistles, he chained accelerations, class actions and an “angel’s jump” in front of Willy Sagnol in the area, without succeeding in fooling the referee.
Faced with Lilian Thuram, elected man of the match, “CR7” attempted three shots, including one on target. His free kick in the 78th was stopped by Fabien Barthez with a volleyball cuff, and France eliminated Portugal.
Most frustrating
Friendly on October 11, 2014 in Saint-Denis: France – Portugal 2-1 (playing time: 76 minutes)
A frustrating evening for the superstar who, with only three chances, appears helpless and lonely. His French teammates at Real Madrid stole the show: Karim Benzema signed a goal and an assist, and Raphaël Varane bridled the Portuguese rocket.
«We controlled Cristiano, we all know his fantastic skills and the fact that he didn’t score is good for us“, Relishes the 21-year-old defender. Didier Deschamps congratulates him: “He had some blows to catch up with Cristiano, especially in speed and yet Cristiano goes fast. He is full of confidence».
The poorest
Friendly on September 4, 2015 in Lisbon: Portugal – France 0-1 (playing time: 67 minutes)
At the Alvalade stadium, where he made his debut with Sporting, the Madeira native cannot dispel the doubts that escort his sluggish start to the season with Real, without a goal scored in an official match.
Faced with Varane and Laurent Koscielny, he has few good balls to negotiate and comes up against Hugo Lloris (41st) on a free kick. Replaced before the hour mark, he saw Mathieu Valbuena triumph in the 85th minute … on a free kick.
The shortest
Euro final on July 10, 2016 in Saint-Denis: France – Portugal 0-1 ap (playing time: 25 minutes)
Paradoxically, the only France-Portugal won by Ronaldo was largely disputed without him … In the final of Euro-2016, in Saint-Denis, the captain left his family after 25 minutes, crying on a stretcher, after a shock with Dimitri Payet.
With his left knee bandaged, he grits his teeth from the bench and harangues his teammates like a supercharged assistant coach. Fernando Santos does not forget to “thank»His attacker,«great support to motivate our players“, of “bench and in the locker room».
The most threatening
League of Nations (first leg) on October 11, 2020 in Saint-Denis: France – Portugal 0-0 (playing time: 93 minutes)
The poster between the French world champions and the Portuguese European champions is marked by iron defenses. Ronaldo is however threatening on two actions, in the 24th minute and then at the very end of the game.
On the first, Lucas Hernandez throws his left foot in the middle of the box to counter it. “When we make a big defensive gesture, it gives us a shot of adrenaline, it motivates us even more“, Told the defender to AFP before the Euro. On the second, Lloris blocks the heavy strike from Ronaldo.
The most closed
League of Nations (return) on November 14, 2020 in Lisbon: Portugal – France 0-1 (playing time: 95 minutes)
In Lisbon, Ronaldo is well controlled by Varane and Presnel Kimpembe who forgets him only before the break, without consequence. After the defeat, the Portuguese wrote on Instagram: “All matches teach us something. (…) We must raise our heads and be proud of all that we have accomplished together! “
The statistician Opta notes that France is “The opponent he has most often faced without succeeding in finding the flaw in his career in all competitions, in club and in selection».
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