What Ronaldo Did in World Cup: Just, Wow

He scores a hat trick, including a beautiful free-kick goal late to tie it for Portugal
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 16, 2018 5:31 AM CDT

Cristiano Ronaldo is considered one of the best soccer players ever, and he proved why on Friday. He scored three times, including one with about 2 minutes left in regulation, to lift Portugal into a 3-3 tie with Spain in their World Cup opener. The feat makes him, at age 33 years and 131 days, the oldest player to notch a World Cup hat trick, notes ESPN. He's also only the fourth player ever to score in four World Cups. Ronaldo's first two goals weren't perhaps of the write-home-about-it variety, including one that went in with help from Spain's goalie, but the third one was incredible, per the BBC. It came on a free kick, and you can watch it here. The New York Times' headline on all this refers to a "draw for the ages, starring a player for all time." (More World Cup stories.)

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