Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were dumped out of Euro 2020 by Belgium as Thorgan Hazard gave his nation a 1-0 win.
Ronaldo helped his side win Euro 2016 but couldn’t muster anything special in Spain to save his country from an early exit at the hands of the Red Devils.
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It was always going to be an intriguing encounter between two heavy hitters but it was hardly a European Championship classic.
A meandering first period was lit up at the last as the younger Hazard scored a stunning strike which swerved past Rui Patricio.
The Belgians lost Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard to injury throughout the encounter, with the former a serious worry with an ankle problem.
But despite huge late pressure Belgium were able to repel Ronaldo – the current Golden Boot leader – and his teammates and seal a quarter-final tie against Italy on July 2 in Munich.
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In the opening exchanges, only jabs were thrown by the two sides as they slowly acclimatised to the pitch in Seville.
The opening 15 minutes saw just five touches of the ball between the two goalkeepers Thibaut Courtois and Patricio, highlighting the lack of offensive action.
Ronaldo used all his wily antics to increase his side’s chances of success, making a meal of contact from Thomas Meunier, while Renato Sanches scuffed a long-range shot wide of goal.
Meanwhile, a Ronaldo free-kick swerved towards goal but Courtois saved and Joao Palhinha couldn’t reach the rebound.
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It was Ronaldo’s 27th free-kick at European Championships since 2004 – more than any nation – just a shame he hasn’t scored any of them.
The game’s slow ebb and flow saw a string of passive passes and some timid dribbles met by stoic defences at either end of the pitch.
Toby Alderweireld blocking runs and Pepe denying Lukaku an inch in the battle.
Meunier was then chastised by teammate Lukaku as he attempted an outside of the boot curler rather than slip him a pass in the box.
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But just when it looked like half-time would be a vital moment for the sides to collect their thoughts, the Belgians struck.
Lukaku bullied Ruben Dias in the build-up, and after the Belgians recovered the ball, Hazard hammered a swerved effort beyond Patricio, why may feel he could have done better.
Ronaldo, hands on hips, wasn’t happy.
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talkSPORTs Matt Holland certainly enjoyed it too.
“We’ve just seen a piece of magic,” he cooed.
“It finds its way to Thorgan Hazard on the left edge of the box, he cuts inside on his right foot, he arrows his shot past Patricio into the top corner.
“That is absolutely top drawer. It’s got swerve, it’s got bend, it drifts away from Patricio.
“It was maybe more in the middle of the goal than I thought and Patricio perhaps should have done better but there was so much movement on that ball. It is a fantastic strike from Hazard.”
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Prior to the break, De Bruyne was on the end of a crunching tackle from Palhinha, earning the Portuguese a booking.
And while the Man City ace return to the field for the second period, he was swiftly replaced by Dries Mertens as manager Robert Martinez opted not to further risk his talisman’s tender ankle.
Joao Felix, Atletico Madrid’s £113million wonderkid, and Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes entered the fray as the reigning champions looked for a route back into the contest.
Diogo Jota and Felix missed chances but nothing that caused Belgium to break too much sweat.
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Ronaldo wrapped a 28th free-kick into the wall as the game wore on as clear chances were few and far between.
Feistiness was soon the order of the day with veteran defender Pepe going in hard on the younger Hazard after the whistle had been blown to pause play for a head injury to Lukaku.
The Porto ace was only booked for ill-advised challenge.
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As Portugal pressed forward, Courtois had to punch away a Dias header, while Raphael Guerreiro hit the post as time ticked away for the Euro 2016 winners.
Andre Silva was another who went close as the losing side pressed forward, while their defence robustly dealt with any counters.
One last Felix strike was dragged wide and when the final whistle blew a fuming Ronaldo thumped the floor.
He’s currently on five goals at Euro 2020 with Patrik Shick now one behind him on four having helped Czech Republic beat Netherlands.
Will he be beaten to the award?
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