Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in the worst XI of the World Cup group stages – alongside four Qatar stars.
- Ronaldo opens up on heated spat after Portugal substitution in South Korea defeat
- Ronaldo’s “angry” comment after being substituted vs South Korea caught on camera
- Why Japan’s winning goal that eliminated Germany was allowed to stand
Ronaldo started every game for Portugal in their successful group stage campaign but struggled to make any impact, scoring only once and looking anonymous for large periods.
Sofascore, announcing their worst team of the initial phase of the World Cup, placed Ronaldo up front with an average rating of 6.37 across his three games.
He appeared a frustrated figure for much of his time on the pitch for Portugal, growing frustrated at team-mates for not passing the ball more. His misery was compounded on Friday when he ducked at a corner, allowing the ball to deflect off his back and into the path of Kim Young-Gwon to fire home.
Sofascore’s own clarification is that only players who played 60 per cent of minutes across the group phase were eligible, though it remains an unwanted gong for a player who still wants a move to a ‘Champions League club’.
Elsewhere in the team, Meshaal Barsham, who replaced Saad Al-Sheeb after Qatar’s opening game with Ecuador, was the lowest rated goalkeeper, scoring an average of 6.10 for his two displays, in which he conceded five times.
Meanwhile, thanks majorly in part to conceding seven in their opening game against Spain, the two defenders both hail from Costa Rica with Francisco Calvo and Oscar Duarte forming the partnership defence.
They achieved average ratings of 6.25 and 6.30, respectively, such was the nature of their poor display against the 2010 world champions.
At left-back, Homam Ahmed features having achieved a rating of 6.23. Alistair Johnston, one of two Canada players to make the side, plays with an average overall rating from his three matches of 6.40.
Playing a 4-4-2 formation, Al-Malki and Karim Boudiaf make up the midfield pairing, coming from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, respectively. Al-Malki was the third lowest scoring player in the team, with 6.15. Boudiaf, according to Sofascore, achieved an average rating of 6.30.
Tajon Buchanan, who looked bright in spells for Canada fills in on the left as the joint-lowest ranked player in the team alongside the goalkeeper with an average rating of 6.10.
The right side is Australia’s Mathew Leckie who was awarded 6.33. The Australian, alongside Ronaldo, is the only player in the team who will appear in the last-16.
Ronaldo’s partner in attack completes the Qatari quad, with Almoez Ali being been adjudged to have been 6.23 good across his 226 minutes.
Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes leads the way in the team of the group phase, having recorded an averaging rating of 8.60. His two goals and two assists have established him as one of the frontrunners for the player of the the tournament award.
He is joined in attack by Antoine Griezmann, enjoying something of a renaissance at the tournament, as well as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Holland’s Cody Gakpo.
Casemiro is named as the central midfielder while the back four is made up of Theo Hernandez, Christensen, Cameroon defender Jean-Charles Castelletto, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
Finally, Wojciech Szczesny is rewarded for his remarkable penalty save against Lionel Messi on Wednesday, is named in goal.
