World Cup 2018: Cristiano Ronaldo explains new goatee look after speculation it was GOAT ‘dig at Lionel Messi’

CRISTIANO RONALDO is going all out to prove to Lionel Messi that he is the Greatest Of All Time at this World Cup.

The Real Madrid star, 33, scored an heroic hat-trick in Portugal's 3-3 draw with Spain in their opening game.

To add to that, Ronaldo scored the winner in his nation's 1-0 win over Morocco in game two this afternoon.

But it wasn't just his fourth-minute header that had fans talking today... but his facial hair.

Seemingly grown overnight, Ronaldo showed up to the game with a goatee - with many interpreting the fresh new look as a GOAT dig at Lionel Messi.

The two La Liga superstars have been going back and forth with their jibes - with the Argentine even posing with a live goat for a US magazine to get his point across.

But despite the speculation, Ronaldo has suggested there is a more innocent reason behind his new look.

The Portugal captain claims it started as a joke and now he's keeping it for luck.

“My beard? It was a joke with [Ricardo] Quaresma, we were in the sauna and I was shaving, I left a goatee and told him if I scored vs Spain I won't shave it until the end of the World Cup.

"It brought good luck and I scored vs Spain and today vs Morocco. So I'll keep it.”

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Messi failed to back up his huge claim to be the GOAT in Argentina's first game - missing a penalty in the 1-1 draw with World Cup debutants Iceland.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo - who appeared to be drawing attention to an imaginary goatee in the Spain game - has been going from strength-to-strength in recent months.

Following his Spain treble - including the last-gasp free-kick stunner - his strike against Morocco means he is now the leading European international goalscorer of all-time.

Ronaldo scored his 85th goal for Portugal meaning he eclipsed the 62-year record held by 84-goal Hungary international Ferenc Puskas.