World Cup 2018: Fans applaud ‘sporting’ Ronaldo for helping injured Edinson Cavani off the pitch… but was he just hurrying him up as Portugal were losing?
Real Madrid star showed no animosity to two-goal hero as he lent his shoulder for support
CRISTIANO RONALDO was hailed as “classy” for helping injured Edinson Cavani off the pitch during Portugal’s World Cup last-16 defeat to Uruguay.
Cavani, 31, scored either side of Pepe’s header to send the South Americans into a quarter-final clash against France.
But the two-goal hero went down holding his leg with just 17 minutes left to play.
As he began limping off the field to be subbed, Portugal skipper Ronaldo put his arm around his rival and let him lean on him for support.
Christhian Stuani came on for the Paris Saint-Germain striker and helped Uruguay hold on to their lead.
Ronaldo, 33, was praised for his gesture, while some cynics suggested he was only doing it to save precious time as Portugal were losing and the clock ticking.
Other Twitter users claimed that footage appeared to show the referee had to ask Ronaldo to aid Cavani as he limped off.
Cavani opened the scoring early on after heading in Luis Suarez’s cross.
Pepe equalised from a Raphael Guerreiro cross in the 55th minute but Cavani made it two-one with a sublime first-time finish into the bottom corner.
But the PSG ace went down under no pressure in the 73rd minute before having to be replaced, and was later seen holding icing his leg.
Cavani’s World Cup could now be over after he told Uruguayan TV he had injured his calf.
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He has just six days until Uruguay’s quarter-final showdown with France.
Ronaldo’s World Cup, meanwhile, ended controversially after he was booked for ranting at the referee.
The ref waved away Portugal’s free-kick appeals after Ricardo Quaresma was brought down and gave Ronaldo his second yellow of the tournament.