Cristiano Ronaldo was not able to shine for Portugal at the World Cup due to a 'political ban' on the star, according to Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ronaldo broke a record in Qatar, becoming the first man to have scored at five World Cups in-a-row, when he scored in Portugal's first group game against Ghana.
That goal came from the penalty spot, with the forward accused of diving to win it, as Fernando Santos' side just got past the Africans.
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However, the 37-year-old didn't score another goal after that, meaning that he will likely end his career without ever scoring in the knockouts of the World Cup, unless he attempts to stop that run in North America aged 41, at the next one.
Santos even ended up favouring his team playing without the now former Manchester United striker in the knockout stages, only using him as a substitute.
It worked in the last 16 win over Switzerland, with replacement Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick, but not in the quarter final loss to Morocco.
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Ronaldo came on in both those games but failed to make any impact, despite his reputation as a man who scores goals when his team needs him.
That failure has now been put down to a 'political ban,' with Turkey premier Erdogan blaming it on Ronaldo's unfounded support of Palestine.
"They have wasted Ronaldo. Unfortunately, they have imposed a political ban on him," Erdogan told a youth event in the Erzurum province at the weekend.
"Sending a footballer like Ronaldo to the pitch with just 30 minutes remaining to the match ruined his psychology and took away his energy.
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"Ronaldo is someone who stands for the Palestinian cause.
"According to the information I have received, Ronaldo is now going to Saudi Arabia."
Firstly the Turkish Prime Minister seemed to suggest that Santos deciding against playing Ronaldo was the reason for his poor form.
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It is quite frankly Piers Morgan-esque blaming of the manager for the five time Ballon d'Or winner's inability to make a difference for the team.
Secondly he claimed Ronaldo's 'political ban,' whatever that actually means, was down to support of Palestine, despite the former Real Madrid star never openly supporting Palestine, or Israel for that matter.
He has once posed with a scarf, alongside Palestine FA president Jibril Rajoub but has also posed with a football shirt with former Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz.
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Ironically, Portugal and Ronaldo were knocked out by Morocco, whose players did carry the Palestine flag after their wins, in support of their Middle East conflict.
Some questioned why that was allowed but support of LGBTQIA+ rights in Qatar and the wearing of the rainbow, was banned during the tournament.
Erdogan did perhaps get it right that Ronaldo is on his way back to the region to sign for Saudi side Al-Nassr, as he is currently out of work.
After leaving United at the start of the World Cup, the forward is reportedly now booked in for a medical for the next move in his career.
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Topics: Football, Football World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo
Ryan Sidle