FRANCISCO SECO AP DOHA Cristiano Ronaldo said he was living a beautiful moment after being the first player to score in five men's World Cups, as he helped Portugal to a 3 -- 2 victory over Ghana on Thursday at the start of their campaign in Qatar.
Ronaldo told reporters that it was a beautiful moment in my fifth World Cup. We started on a good foot. He said that it's another record. That makes me very proud. I am very happy for the team to have put on an excellent performance. It was difficult, but we deserved to win. After Uruguay draw, Bento says that son will need time to adapt.
Ronaldo was asked about his acrimonious departure from Manchester United this week, and he said the only thing that counted was Portugal's win. He said that it doesn't matter what's going on.
Portugal's captain Fernando Santos hailed his 37 year-old captain who won a second-half penalty and converted it himself to open the scoring against Ghana.
I think Cristiano is a phenomenon, a legend, Santos told reporters. We will still be talking about him in 50 years time. Ronaldo was substituted in the 88th minute to receive a rousing reception around Stadium 974 in Doha at the beginning of what is likely to be his last World Cup.
ALSO READ: Richarlison turns on style as silky Brazil sees off Serbia
Santos rebuffed suggestions by his Ghanaian opposite number Otto Addo that the penalty decision was incorrect - given for a shove by defender Mohammed Salisu - and should have been reviewed by U.S. referee Ismail Elfath via the VAR system.
If the VAR tells the referee that he has to have a look, he will have a look, he said. If the VAR didn't call over the referee it's because they watched the images and there was nothing to see. Santos, who has been in charge of Portugal since 2014 and who led them to the 2016 European Championships title, said the game had its highs and lows for Portugal and he was unhappy about conceding two goals.
ALSO READ: Ronaldo breaks record as Portugal up and running with Ghana win.
He said that now we have to look and see what happened with the players and respond to it.