Portugal is conducting an unprecedented experiment.
When Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice against Uzbekistan in Portugal’s second group match, he became the first player in World Cup history to score in six different finals. He also overtook Eusébio’s tally of nine to become Portugal’s leading scorer at the tournament.
But Ronaldo is not in North America to beat up willing-but-limited opponents such as Uzbekistan. Portugal began the tournament as sixth favorite. And this is surely, (surely?) Ronaldo’s last chance to take home the biggest prize in soccer.
To do so, he needs to score more goals. The average age of the winner of the Golden Boot, the prize awarded to the tournament’s top goalscorer, is 24.5. Only once in history has the Golden Boot winner been over 30. Ronaldo is 41. He is old.
Still scoring, but a limited game
