Cristiano Ronaldo messaged Piers Morgan in the Portugal dressing room after their 2-0 win over Uruguay to claim he got a touch to Bruno Fernandes ' cross to open the scoring.
That's according to former USA defender Alexi Lalas, who explained that Morgan told him Ronaldo texted him after the game to say he felt he should've been awarded the goal. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner celebrated like he had scored, with Ronaldo running away holding his finger in the air and looking delighted in the process.
Fernandes' delivery appeared to deceive the Uruguay defence and fly into the corner with Ronaldo claiming the final touch. The 37-year-old attempted to flick the cross home, but replays showed he didn't get anything onto the ball into the box with Fernandes given the goal.
The Manchester United midfielder put the game beyond doubt in added time as he scored from the penalty spot to secure Portugal's place in the last-16 of the World Cup. Ronaldo, who was taken off before Fernandes struck his second, reportedly text Morgan after the game with Lalas revealing the conversation he had with the journalist.
"The breaking news is the Cristiano Ronaldo did not score despite his claims that it did touch him," the ex-USMNT captain said on Fox Soccer. "I was just with Piers Morgan and he said that Cristiano texted him from the locker room saying that he believes that it touched his head. So, uhm, who knows."
Morgan also tweeted: "Ronaldo confirmed to me that his head touched the ball. Even Bruno agrees."
Meanwhile, Fernandes admitted that it doesn't matter who scored as Portugal ran out comfortable winners over their South American opponents. Fernando Santos' men will top Group G if they pick up at least a point against South Korea in their final group game, or Ghana fail to beat Uruguay and Portugal better the Africans' goal difference.
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"I don't really think it matters who scored," Fernandes said about the first goal. "The feeling at the time was that he (Ronaldo) touched the ball - I was crossing it to him - but what's important was we moved into the next round and beat a very big opponent."
Ronaldo has made an impressive start to his World Cup campaign, a week after United announced that the forward will leave the club by mutual consent following his controversial interview with Morgan. The former Real Madrid man opened up about his time at Old Trafford and criticised a number of aspects of the club.
He slammed first-team manager Erik ten Hag and admitted he doesn't have any respect for the Dutchman, before going onto hit out at the Glazers and other members at Old Trafford. It all led into United confirming Ronaldo would leave the club, 15 months after re-joining from Juventus.
