Cristiano Ronaldo looked virtually unstoppable in Portugal’s first two World Cup matches, but Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand got the best of him early in the second half on Monday.
A controversial no-call inside the box was reviewed, and Ronaldo was awarded a penalty kick after it was determined that he was tripped up by an Iran defender. Portugal was leading 1-0 at the time, and 2-0 seemed like a virtual certainty.
Until it wasn’t:
Ronaldo steps up from the spot but it's SAVED by Beiranvand! pic.twitter.com/LKLaeWSyWE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2018
Beiranvand guessed right and made an outstanding save, which is something you don’t hear very often when Ronaldo is taking a PK. Twitter was left stunned, and there were plenty of Lionel Messi jokes:
Ronaldo’s penalty whiff. Best moment of Messi’s World Cup so far
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 25, 2018
Ronaldo missed intentionally so he could get on the same penalty miss count as Messi.#WorldCup
— betclever (@bet_clever) June 25, 2018
???? Ronaldo misses a penalty!#IRNPOR pic.twitter.com/5B78ypORtc
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) June 25, 2018
And the Ronaldo v Messi debate reignites #IRAPOR
— Laura Woods (@laura_woodsy) June 25, 2018
Ronaldo missed in honour of Messi. Fair play.
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) June 25, 2018
Ronaldo, more like RonalDOH
Please RT
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) June 25, 2018
Messi and Ronaldo, take notes
@HaytersTV pic.twitter.com/KpXRjuxOj2
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) June 25, 2018
Messi, of course, missed a penalty kick in Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Iceland earlier in the World Cup. He hasn’t been nearly as effective as Ronaldo on PKs, as Messi has missed 24 of 103 penalty kicks he has taken and Ronaldo had missed 18 heading into Monday. Messi’s percentage is 76.7, while Ronaldo had converted 82.8 percent prior to the miss against Iran.
Messi has already been mocked plenty on social media during the World Cup, but Monday was Ronaldo’s turn.
