Cristiano Ronaldo was lucky to keep away from a purple card throughout Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to Slovakia on Friday evening after catching their goalkeeper with a harmful problem. The former Manchester United star lunged in for a sort out with Newcastle's Martin Dubravka and the shot-stopper got here off a lot worse from the 50-50 collision, with Ronaldo maybe fortunate to flee additional punishment from the officers.

The 38-year-old had been left pissed off by his goalless sport in opposition to Slovakia, though the Selecao led 1-0 by his former membership team-mate Bruno Fernandes' strike within the forty third minute.

Ronaldo would get his likelihood so as to add his title to the scoresheet when the ball fell kindly to the veteran goalscorer contained in the penalty space, however he snatched on the likelihood and mishit the primary effort.

The ball bobbled away from him as he desperately dived feet-first in direction of the ball with Dubravka dashing off his line to smother it.

And Ronaldo appeared to catch the Slovakian's neck along with his studs, prompting outrage from the hosts as Dubravka laid nonetheless down on the ground.

Ronaldo did look apologetic as he rushed over to Dubravka to examine on his state, whereas Slovakia's gamers crowded referee Glenn Nyberg demanding the Dutch official present him a purple card.

However, after a quick VAR examine, the referee's on-field choice to provide the Portugal icon a yellow card stood, though replays confirmed Ronaldo was maybe lucky to flee a dismissal for his lunge.

Portugal went on to win by the identical 1-0 scoreline to take care of their good document beneath Roberto Martinez in Group H, with 5 wins from 5 and 15 targets scored with out reply.

Ronaldo was unable so as to add to his 5 targets in Euro 2024 qualifying regardless of taking part in the complete 90 minutes and making an attempt 5 pictures within the sport.

But the legendary goalscorer can at the very least console himself with the concept that his all-time document of 123 targets in 200 caps is unlikely to ever be overwhelmed.

He has been in tremendous kind since becoming a member of Al-Nassr in November final 12 months, bagging 26 targets in simply 30 appearances for the Saudi Arabian membership.