Lalas throws down gauntlet to Ronaldo: ‘Anyone can say they’re back against Uzbekistan’

With Portugal’s final Group K clash against Colombia looming, FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas delivered a pointed challenge to Cristiano Ronaldo, dismissing the superstar’s record-breaking brace against Uzbekistan as proof of nothing.

“You saw Cristiano Ronaldo say he’s back,” Lalas said on FOX’s pre-match coverage. “Anybody can say they are back against Uzbekistan. If he is truly back, then this is the game to show it.”

The timing was deliberate. Just days earlier, Ronaldo had announced his return to form in emphatic fashion, scoring twice in Portugal’s 5-0 demolition of World Cup debutants Uzbekistan. The brace made him the first player in history to score in six different World Cup tournaments, surpassing Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals. The Portuguese captain declared himself “back” — a statement Lalas was eager to test.

The challenge proved prophetic. On Saturday at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Colombia held Portugal to a tense 0-0 draw, with Ronaldo failing to make an impact. He played the full 90 minutes despite suffering a shoulder injury early in the match, but managed just one free-kick on target — comfortably saved by Colombia goalkeeper Vargas. Portugal finished second in Group K with five points, behind group winners Colombia on seven.

Lalas has been a persistent critic of Ronaldo’s role in the Portuguese setup. Earlier in the tournament, he suggested Ronaldo had become a “burden” to his national team, and has previously blamed manager Roberto Martinez’s handling of the 41-year-old for Portugal’s Euro 2024 exit.

Colombia’s fans made their feelings known throughout the match, booing Ronaldo every time he touched the ball. At one point, during a hydration break, broadcast cameras caught Ronaldo chatting with Colombia’s James Rodriguez — with lip-readers suggesting the Portuguese star simply remarked on the Miami heat.

For Ronaldo, the knockout rounds offer a chance to prove Lalas wrong. For Lalas, the 0-0 stalemate may have felt like vindication.