Why did Ronaldo Give Free Kick to Nuno Mendes? Here's the REAL Reason

The Portuguese legend is back, and how, as Cristiano Ronaldo fired his nation into the lead in just the 6th minute of the game against Uzbekistan in the FIFA World Cup 2026. After the horror show against DR Congo, the stakes were higher than ever, and the Portuguese superstar didn't disappoint.

Portugal were presented with another wonderful opportunity when they got a free kick just at the edge of the Uzbekistan box. Everyone was aware of the fact that one of the best Portuguese players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, would take it, considering he would want to increase his tally for the day.

However, something strange happened as fans witnessed Ronaldo free kick to Nuno Mendes. Sounds weird, right? We are here to answer why the Portuguese captain did this and what happened soon after.

Ronaldo Leaves Free Kick For Nuno Mendes

The giving away of Ronaldo free kick to Nuno Mendes was symbolic of the fact that Cristiano is indeed a team player, who puts the welfare of his team ahead of his personal milestones. Cristiano Ronaldo seemed to take the free kick as he started with a little jog, but it was the PSG fullback who struck a fierce shot at the goalkeeper's near post, leaving him with no chance.

It seemed to be a regular training ground routine, which was executed to perfection. This shows that all the noise regarding Cristiano not being a team player is not true. He may be obsessed with his records, but not at the cost of his team suffering. It will be interesting to see how he performs for the Portugal national football team in the rest of the tournament.