World Cup 2018: Top 5 matches so far

#1 Spain 3-3 Portugal

Ronaldo

It’s not often that a group league match turns out to be the best a tournament has to offer but it was the case when the Iberian neighbors split points in an absorbing tie. The Spanish team was full of stars but they got outshone by Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar.

Ronaldo earned a penalty for his side when Nacho tripped him inside the Spanish penalty box. He converted from the spot and thereafter, Spain came back to the match slowly. The likes of Andres Iniesta and Isco started to dictate terms in the midfield and Diego Costa found the equalizer for Spain. Ronaldo, however, refused to budge and again put Portugal ahead by sending the ball home through the legs of David De Gea, the Spanish goalkeeper.

Spain again began to dominate in the second half and continued their relentless attacks before Diego Costa finally headed home the equalizer. Young right-back Nacho, who replaced an injured Dani Carvajal in the starting line-up, fired Spain ahead with a brilliant strike from outside the box and Spain seemed to be on their way to a memorable victory.

However, the indomitable spirit of Ronaldo came to the fore again as he struck home a thunderous free-kick to make things level in the 80th minute. Ronaldo’s hat-trick salvaged a point for Portugal and his stunning display would go down as one of the most memorable individual performances in the history of the World Cup.