Was Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal celeb a claim to greatest of all time?

Eventually, the match ended in a draw after hat-trick hero Ronaldo’s sensational free-kick two minutes from time earned Portugal a 3-3 draw with Spain in a pulsating World Cup Group B encounter.

Spain appeared to be on top as Isco rifled a shot against the bar, only for Ronaldo to strike again one minute before halftime with the help of De Gea’s blunder as the ball hit his hand and slipped agonisingly into the net.

Egypt is making its first World Cup appearance in 28 years and its success will depend on the health of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who was injured in the Champions League final but is expected to play.

It could also be a last World Cup for five-time Ballon d’Or victor Ronaldo as he looks to finally make his mark on football’s greatest stage. Three more goals followed at AFCON 2010, including the victor against Nigeria in the semifinals. He only scored one goal at each of the last three World Cups, but he doubled his finals tally in one humid night on Russia’s Black Sea coast.

Brazil will start their World Cup campaign on Sunday against Switzerland in Rostov, and then take on Costa Rica on June 22 in St Petersburg before completing the group phase on June 27 against Serbia in Moscow.

That made it nine tournaments in a row for the former Sunderland and Al Ain striker, 32.

Ronaldo made brief remarks to a Federation Internationale de Football Association press officer after the game but left before media could ask questions about his legal problems.

It came just hours before Ronaldo was due to play for Portugal in the match against Spain at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia. Another fan said, “Ronaldo was the best at the pitch, he got a hat trick and gave Portugal a draw”.

But letting in as he did for the second – especially after Spain had fought back to equalise – left him on the end of loads of criticism. We put on our gloves and go out into the field and we know how hard it is.