26 March 2023 , 21:53
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Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronaldo was booked for diving on Sunday night... despite Portugal boasting a four-goal lead against minnows Luxembourg.
Ronaldo, 38, won his 198th senior cap and bagged a brace during Portugal's comfortable 6-0 win at the Stade de Luxembourg. The result means Roberto Martinez's side have won their first two qualifiers for Euro 2024, which takes place in Germany next summer.
Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal in the eighth minute and debuted his new celebration, which was a combination of his trademark 'Siu' and 'Nap' celebrations. Yet the Al-Nassr forward's display was marred by his embarrassing tumble in the 57th minute.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner tried to deceive the referee by throwing himself to the ground after running into Maxime Chanot, a 33-year-old defender who plays for New York City. Referee Radu Petrescu booked Ronaldo and told him to get on with the game.
Ronaldo was substituted by Martinez a few moments later. Despite Ronaldo's theatrics, it was an enjoyable night for Portugal. Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Otavio and Rafael Leao all scored for the Euro 2016 winners, who will be hoping to reclaim their crown next year.
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Ronaldo needed just eight minutes to find the net. The veteran calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner before running off and performing his new celebration. It is believed to be the first time he's ever combined the 'Siu' and the 'Nap' before.
Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled his new celebration after scoring against Luxembourg (Getty Images)What do you make of Cristiano Ronaldo's dive? Let us know in the comments below!
Ronaldo is best known for the 'Siu', which became his trademark celebration during his time at Real Madrid. The Portuguese ace famously shouted "siu" down the microphone after winning the 2014 Ballon d'Or and getting one over his long-term rival Lionel Messi.
He later explained, "The scream? The players know I always do that shout when I score a goal or when we win. It's our shout, from Real Madrid."
Regarding the 'Nap' celebration, this was first done after Ronaldo scored for Man Utd against Everton in October. Although He's never explained the celebration, it is believed to have originated from a joke made by his team-mates at Old Trafford.
Yet the veteran's display was overshadowed by his diveAccording to Man Utd's website, the 'Nap' celebration is a "self-deprecating in-joke" about the number of naps Ronaldo takes a day. The former Juventus star gets plenty of rest to ensure his ageing body is in the best possible condition for competitive games.
Ronaldo now has 122 goals at senior level for Portugal, which makes him the highest scorer in the history of men's international football. He also became the most capped men's footballer of all time in Portugal's 4-0 win against Liechtenstein on Thursday night.
Ronaldo now has 198 senior caps following Sunday night's game. The experienced star is on course to become the first man to win 200 senior caps in June, when Portugal take on Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in their next two Euro 2024 qualifiers.