Portugal (National Football)

European champions Portugal didn't need Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo to win the third-place play-off match against Mexico at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, as Adrien Silva converted a penalty in extra time to give his side a 2-1 win.

Both teams ended the match with 10 players after Nelson Semedo and Raul Jimenez were given their marching orders. Chile and Germany will meet in the final of the tournament.

El Tri took the lead against the run of play in the 54th minute as the unfortunate Luis Neto scored an own goal. 

Portugal had dominated until that point, but there was little Neto could do when Javier Hernandez's fast cross hit him in the legs and bounced in goal.

Jan Hagen of Sport Witness blamed goalkeeper Rui Patricio:

Golo. Rui Patrício unable to pick up a Chicharito cross which ends in a Luís Neto own goal. The goalkeeper should've done better.

— Jan Freðrik Hagen (@JanFHagen) July 2, 2017

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa appeared to be on his way to a man-of-the-match award, saving a penalty from Andre Silva and making a series of key stops that preserved the lead. But in the 91st minute, veteran defender Pepe popped up inside the penalty box to turn home an inviting cross, sending the match into extra time.

Miguel Layun gave Portugal a golden opportunity to take the lead with a senseless handball inside his own penalty box in the 104th minute. Ochoa couldn't repeat his earlier heroics as Silva sent him the wrong way.

The match ended with plenty of controversy as both Semedo and Jimenez were sent off for a second bookable offence, and El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio was sent to the stands. The tactician was livid after Hector Moreno was seemingly pushed to the ground with no penalty given.

While Portugal crashed out of the 2017 Confederations Cup at the hands of Chile on Wednesday, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo had reason to be happy after he announced the birth of his twins.

Ronaldo made the announcement on his official Facebook page, with the Daily Mail's Rory O'Callaghan providing a translation:

"I am very happy to finally be able to be with my children for the first time."

Per O'Callaghan, Ronaldo has been released from the national team to be with his children, and as a result, he'll miss Portugal's third-place play-off on Sunday, which will be against either Germany or Mexico.

Portuguese television network SIC (via The Independent) first reported June 10 that Ronaldo had become the father of twins via a surrogate.

Ronaldo's oldest son, Cristiano Jr., was born in 2010. Ronaldo could be set to become a father once again in the coming months, as his partner Georgina Rodriguez is "rumoured to be five months pregnant," according to O'Callaghan.

In May, the 32-year-old posted a photo to Instagram of him holding Rodriguez's stomach, prompting speculation she is expecting:

The birth of his twins continues what has been a busy past 12 months for the Portugal international.

This time last year, Ronaldo was in the process of helping his national team win Euro 2016, and in December, he earned his fourth Ballon d'Or. Earlier in the month, he scored twice to propel Real Madrid to their 12th European Cup, completing a domestic and continental double.

UEFA Euro 2016 winners Portugal take on Copa America champions Chile in the semi-finals of the 2017 Confederations Cup on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Alexis Sanchez will do battle in the Kazan Arena, Russia, as the nations fight for a spot in the final.

Either Germany or Mexico await the winners in the game to decide the championship.

Here is how you can watch the encounter:

     

Date: Wednesday, June 28

Time: 7 p.m. BST/ 2 p.m. ET

TV: ITV 1 (UK only), Fox Sports 1 (U.S. only)

Stream: ITV Hub, Sky Go, Fox Sports GO

     

Preview 

Two superstars come face to face as Real Madrid icon Ronaldo meets Arsenal forward Sanchez.

La Roja limped past Australia to claim second spot in Group B in the final match of qualifying, as A Seleccao topped Group A on goal difference over Mexico.

Amitai Winehouse of the MailOnline reported burgeoning talent Bernardo Silva missed training ahead of the last-four game after picking up a knock.

Silva has impressed for the Portuguese during their time in Russia, and it is clear he could develop into major star for Manchester City after signing for the Premier League side from Monaco.

Ronaldo remains the central threat for his team after scoring twice in the tournament, but Portugal have a wealth of creative talent available to support him.

Chile appeared quiet against the Socceroos in their final group match, but they produced a solid second-half performance to qualify.

The form of Sanchez will be key against the Portuguese unit, and his ability to penetrate the defence could decide the outcome.

Per Winehouse, Portugal midfielder Pizzi is wary of the explosive capabilities of their opponents.

"Chile are one of the favourites," Pizzi said. "They've players of great quality playing in big clubs worldwide, but our goal is to play the final."

The two sides are evenly matched ahead of the semi-final in Kazan, but the individual contributions of Ronaldo and Sanchez will likely be telling at the final whistle.

      

Prediction

There is no doubt Chile have found it difficult to show the best side of their game in the group stages, but it would be foolish to doubt them in knockout football.

Portugal impressed as they crushed New Zealand, but they have also appeared short across their three games.

The team that puts their foot on the gas will prevail, and both sides are very evenly matched.

In this scenario, the presence of Ronaldo should be the difference, but Sanchez's quality will hurt the Portuguese.

    

Predicted Result: 1-1—Portugal to win on penalties.

Portugal beat New Zealand 4-0 in Group A of the 2017 Confederations Cup on Saturday, qualifying for the last four.

A penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after 32 minutes, and Bernardo Silva doubled the lead before half-time.

Andre Silva blasted home with 10 minutes remaining to claim the victory in style after a busy performance for the young striker.

Nani scored a fourth goal in stoppage time for Portugal.

The All Whites battled hard throughout the contest but could not convert when in the box.

Portugal topped the group after their endeavours.

Having already been knocked out of the competition, the All Whites played the game in the correct spirit, but their lack of talent was the deciding factor.

Portugal included Nelson Semedo and Danilo Pereira in the starting XI, with Ronaldo not given the day off despite playing inferior opposition.

Joao Moutinho was drafted in to the side to earn his 100th cap for the Portuguese team.

Tommy Doyle was handed a start in the New Zealand defence as they made just a solitary change from the 2-1 defeat against Mexico.

New Zealand started positively as Chris Wood fired at goal, but Portugal quickly regrouped.

Ronaldo saw his shot blocked midway through the first half, with his team now on the front foot and looking for an opener.

The deadlock was broken by the Real Madrid icon from the penalty spot after Danilo was clipped by Doyle for a soft foul.

BT Sport Football highlighted Ronaldo's international efforts:

Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 75th goal for Portugal.

60 in competitive games ⚽️
15 in friendlies ⚽️

Incredible record. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/P8QamU4Nr6

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 24, 2017

Moments later, it was 2-0, as Manchester City new boy Bernardo Silva scored after excellent work from Ricardo Quaresma.

Wood had a good chance to pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time, but the forward fluffed his lines at the final second.

The All Whites continued to work hard in the second half, but there was a gulf in true quality.

New Zealand began to create more as Portugal relaxed with their lead intact, but Wood could not find an elusive strike—with a shot cleared off the line.

Ronaldo was replaced with 27 minutes remaining as Nani was given a run-out for his former Manchester United team-mate.

The substitute winger almost made an immediate impact, but his shot flashed wide.

Andre Silva secured the points in the 80th minute as the attacker burst through to emphatically finish into the roof of the net.

The summer AC Milan signing almost grabbed his brace in the final moments, and there was enough time for Nani to make it 4-0 as the clock ticked towards the final whistle.

New Zealand face Portugal in the final group match of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup on Saturday, with qualification still undecided.

Hosts Russia could still qualify at the expense of either Mexico or Portugal, but Cristiano Ronaldo's country are expected to cruise past the All Whites in Group A.

The Portuguese have a win and a draw to their name, with the New Zealanders out of contention.

Here is how you can watch the match:

    

Date: Saturday, June 24

Time: 4 p.m. (BST)/ 11 a.m. (ET)

TV: ITV 4 (UK only), Fox (U.S. only)

Stream: ITV Hub, Fox Sports Go, fubo.tv

     

Preview

New Zealand have been out of their depth at the Confederations Cup, and the presence of Ronaldo could scare the All Whites into submission.

The Real Madrid icon was on target as his side defeated the hosts 1-0, leaving Portugal on the brink of the next stage.

New Zealand found the net as Chris Wood scored against Mexico, but they have remained toothless throughout most of their play in the competition.

The Portuguese know only a point is needed from the game, and there will be a temptation to rest players against an inferior opponent in Saint Petersburg.

Bernardo Silva was impressive for Portugal as they edged the Russians, and the Manchester City new boy could be a major player late in the competition.

The 22-year-old experienced a breakout season last term, appearing 48 times for Monaco in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League, according to WhoScored.com.

Silva will enjoy the freedom he should be gifted by New Zealand and could eclipse Ronaldo in the contest.

    

Prediction

This could be one of the most one-sided matches at the competition, whether Ronaldo is a major factor or not.

In the past, Portugal have suffered against smaller opponents, but they know only a complete disaster will see them crash out.

The All Whites will be trying to prevent a goal feast, and a draw will represent a major achievement.

However, the UEFA Euro 2016 champions simply have too much in the tank, and there will be no shock win for the side already out of the tournament.

   

Predicted Score: 3-1 win to Portugal

An easy way for viewers to cut through a Confederations Cup competition that is yet to start simmering is to search for unfamiliar talents. There are major nations competing this summer in Russia—Portugal, Germany and Chile among them—and the "mixed" nature of their squads has allowed some fresh, new faces to come forth.

Germany's selection is highly experimental, while Portugal have included five players with fewer than 10 caps. Given the ageing nature of the latter's traditional forward options—Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma and Nani produce a combined age of 96—it's imperative they find alternative solutions, and quickly.

To many, Manchester City new boy Bernardo Silva is the next major player for Portugal, and he impressed as they defeated Russia 1-0 on Wednesday evening. But there's another shining light emerging in the form of Gelson Martins, who has created ripples of appreciation thanks to two energetic cameos thus far, and there's room for both to become serious factors in this Selecao side moving forward.

This month Martins has been linked with Liverpool, according to Nemanja Gribic for FourFourTwo, who also report he's been scouted by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. That's quite the list of potential suitors. 

The nature of his performances off the bench at the Confederations Cup so far—combining for 44 total minutes against Mexico and Russia—outline exactly the kind of player he is: a ball of energy, he rips around the pitch in constant motion, utilising speed, agility and work rate to great effect.

In many ways he's a rare athlete. He's got this elasticity to his movements that's not often found; he can bend, dip and shimmy to escape challenges, and the burst on show when he decides to push forward is absolutely eye-popping.

Maradona-esque turns and shifting feet regularly flummox defenders. Real Madrid found this out the hard way last year in the Champions League, when Martins ran 40 yards on his own, left Toni Kroos in a pile, nutmegged Casemiro and forced Luka Modric to try to foul him.

He uses his speed and movement well; on the ball he is positive, always hunting for space to push into and players to beat one-on-one, and he's happy to pick the ball up deeper and surge through the middle if that's where the space is. He doesn't stay contained to one flank.

Off the ball, he moves with aggression and decisiveness, scaring defenders into overcommitting when accounting for him. There are times when Martins takes the place of the No. 9 who has dropped in and runs off the shoulder of the defence, stretching them and pushing them back to create room behind him.

Those are smart things to do, and smartness is something rather prevalent in his game. He plays with his head up and always seems to have time on the ball. Even when being closed down, he's calm and assured in searching for the correct move—possibly because he knows he boasts ludicrous agility, allowing him to duck out of the way at the last moment.

Martins' (sort of) assist for Cedric Soares' goal was the combining of all of his best qualities: he slowed his marker to a stop, then seared down the outside, got in front and delivered a low ball that caused chaos. A second later, his right-sided colleague stuck it into the back of the net. That's multi-dimensional wing play, combined with speed and delivery—it ticks a lot of scouts' boxes when assessing players.

He's yet to score for Portugal across eight caps, but he doesn't start games for them. For Sporting CP in 2016-17, he netted six in the Primeira Liga, which is a little on the low side, though he played in a team in which Bas Dost (34 goals in 30 Primeira Liga starts) hoovered up absolutely everything, and Martins did produce nine assists. 

Name	Starts	Goals	Assists
Gelson Martins	32	6	9
Sadio Mane	26	13	5
Mohamed Salah	29	15	11

According to O Jogo (h/t Goal.com), Sporting's valuation of Martins is in the £40 million region—a hefty sum, even in 2017. With Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane boasting similar price tags, the difference in production in front of goal is stark and underlines the one obvious area for Martins to work on.

Once he's converting these jaw-dropping twists and turns and searing runs into goals...then we'll have a player who can cut it in the world's top teams.

          

Follow @stighefootball

Facebook.com/SamTigheBR

All statistics via WhoScored.com 

Russia host Portugal in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup at the Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow, on Wednesday.

The Russians are in control of Group A after beating New Zealand 2-0 in their opening match.

Despite the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal, the UEFA Euro 2016 winners drew 2-2 with Mexico.

Here is how you can watch the game:

Date: Wednesday, June 21

Time: 4 p.m. (BST)/ 11 a.m. (ET)

TV: ITV 4 (UK only)/ Fox (U.S. only)

Stream: ITV Hub, Fox Sports Go

Preview

After a stellar season for Real Madrid, which saw Ronaldo win La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, the attacker is chasing more silverware at the Confederations Cup.

The former Manchester United superstar cannot stay out of the news, and his exploits last term were exceptional, even by his lofty standards.

The 32-year-old scored 37 goals in La Liga and Europe, according to WhoScored.com, as Real grabbed two major trophies. He also scored three times as his country won the Euros, allowing them a route into this tournament.

Russia remained composed against New Zealand in their opener, but the All Whites were poor and short of the standards of the better teams at the competition.

Fedor Smolov was impressive, and the country's most prolific striker will be the biggest danger to the Portuguese.

Smolov is the darling of the local media, and his stock has risen after two explosive seasons in the Russian top flight.

This is the type of game that Russia needs as they prepare to host the next FIFA World Cup.

Portugal have a plethora of attacking talent to support Ronaldo, and the Russians need to compete against the best sides possible before their World Cup adventure begins.

      

Prediction 

Russia showed against New Zealand they are a compact unit, but they missed a host of chances against an inferior opponent.

That cannot happen against Portugal, and their defence will be sorely tested as Ronaldo bursts forward at every opportunity.

Smolov's ability gives the hosts a puncher's chance as Portugal conceded twice in their last game.

However, any side with Ronaldo in it has to be considered the favourites, and the traveling party will be expecting to take the points in Moscow.

Predicted Score: Portugal win 2-1

You don't have to believe a magician is sawing his assistant in half to enjoy the spectacle. When the poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge coined the term "suspension of disbelief" in 1817, it is unlikely he envisaged 200 years on we would still be guided by its principles.

Yet here we are, again, for a third time, scouring the social media accounts of the world's most famous athlete for clues as to whether Cristiano Ronaldo really could this time quit Real Madrid.

In all likelihood, he's almost certainly laughing at us trying to solve a crime that has never been committed, yet at the same time it's impossible not to become complicit in a world where we are all but disciples to the cult of Cristiano.

History suggests this latest agenda-shifting power play will culminate in Ronaldo relieving Madrid's coffers of just enough to repay what he allegedly owes the taxman. In 2012, when he refused to celebrate his 150th goal for Los Merengues, citing "a professional issue," it was one ultimately resolved with a bumper new contract.

If David Blaine could conjure a similar outcome from every trick he pulled, he'd be able to afford to spend less time in that perspex box.

Timing, with Ronaldo, is everything. He chose the occasion of his 100th UEFA Champions League goal in April to scold the Santiago Bernabeu faithful for whistling at his inactivity when not in possession. In fairness he had just scored a hat-trick against Bayern Munich. He may be impetuous, but he's smart with it.

And now, on the back 12 months in which he has won the European Championship, the Champions League twice (including two goals a fortnight ago in the 4-1 defeat of Juventus in the final), La Liga and the Club World Cup, while being nailed on to become the Ballon d'Or recipient for a fifth time, he says he wants out.

According to The Telegraph's Jason Burt, Ronaldo's advisers are reaching out to interested clubs to reassure them their client wants to leave Madrid for a "fresh challenge," and not because of the accusations of tax fraud he is facing. A fee of €150 million (£131 million) is being suggested, despite his €1 billion (£874.88 million) buyout clause.

Real Madrid have set Cristiano Ronaldo's price tag at £131m, report @TelegraphFootball. pic.twitter.com/1ue42Cpqmu

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 17, 2017

Yet given he signed a new five-year contract in November, purported suitors Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Inter Milan, along with clubs in the Chinese Super League and MLS, will need convincing they would not by bidding simply become a leveraging tool for Ronaldo in any subsequent talks with his paymasters.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Juventus and maybe even a newly minted AC Milan are perhaps the only other European clubs who could fashion a package that would work within the financial fair play rules. Given the timing, scepticism will be rife across the board regardless.

Presumably in response to Madrid's state prosecutor alleging Ronaldo had used an off-shore company between 2011 and 2014 to hide a portion of his income from the tax office, amounting to €14.7 million (£12.9 million) in unpaid taxes relating to the sale and licensing of his image rights, the player on Thursday posted an image of himself on Instagram holding a finger to his lips with the caption: "Sometimes the best answer it's to be quiet."

Cris posted this on instagram.
Referring that he's not a tax fraud like Messi. pic.twitter.com/AbU0f5wglc

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@TeamRonaldo) June 15, 2017

Three-and-a-half million (and counting) followers liked his silence. A day later considerably more liked him breaking it.

Portuguese daily A Bola was anointed as his unofficial mouthpiece, with its front page dedicated to the mother of all scoops. Ronaldo had arrived at the "irreversible" decision to leave Real Madrid, being of the opinion he had become "a victim of persecution" in Spain (via The Independent).

Reuters' sports correspondent over there, Richard Martin, told the BBC that Ronaldo's team had "called the offices of all Spanish newspapers last night (Thursday) to inform them of the impending front cover story." It seems the only thing missing from A Bola's copy was super agent Jorge Mendes' byline.

Big news coming from Portugal. A Bola claim Cristiano Ronaldo wants out at Real Madrid.

Man Utd primed?https://t.co/g4bXtaQNGV #mufc pic.twitter.com/lXoGJKQ3f5

— TEAMtalk (@TEAMtalk) June 16, 2017

There's no question the tax issue has shook Ronaldo up, as well it might. Although, even if convicted, it is unlikely he would serve any jail time. Last year, Lionel Messi received a 21-month sentence after being convicted of tax fraud, but under Spanish law, anything less than two years for first-time offenders is usually suspended.

Barcelona set up an official social media campaign in support of their player, encouraging supporters to use the hashtag #PayYourTaxes #WeAreAllLeoMessi, and "express their sympathy for the greatest footballer in the world". If it ever goes to court, expect Ronaldo to cite Madrid's failure to do likewise for him as being reasonable grounds for divorce.

Ronaldo will always crave what Messi has at Barcelona. It's not hard to imagine him doing a little fist-pump when he was told the tax he owes dwarfs what his rival was accused of withholding.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, who served in the role between 2006 and 2009, told the BBC's Radio 5 Live (via the Daily Mirror) that it is his view Manchester United would be the player's preferred choice. His thoughts on Ronaldo's relationship with Jose Mourinho during their time together at the Bernabeu are also worthy of note. 

"The relationship in Madrid wasn't the best, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to go back to Manchester, where he is very grateful of what happened.

"He delayed his move to Madrid for a year because Ferguson was like a father to him. He loved the club, the fans, the city and I don't rule out a move back."

There has always been a sense with Ronaldo that if Sporting CP were his first love, and Manchester United his true love, Madrid has been more a marriage of convenience. The perfect power couple who behind closed doors live quite separate lives. Hollywood marriages with bedrooms that house two single beds have not been unheard of over the years. Madrid for their part certainly turned a blind eye to Ronaldo's jaunts to Paris the season before last, when it seems unlikely sightseeing was at the top of his agenda.

Still, if Manchester really is where his heart is, perhaps he'd have ended up back there in 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was convinced he had done enough to bequeath a perfect parting gift to both United and his successor David Moyes. He took a pay bump instead and Moyes had to make do with Marouane Fellaini.

It’s free and waiting for you, @Cristiano. 7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/VS3nHPPurn

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 16, 2017

Given United are thought to be well down the line in their pursuit of Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, and eager to keep at arm's length Real's perennial interest in David De Gea, it seems likely they will tread carefully with Ronaldo. If Mourinho makes noises about his compatriot that irk his former club, Ed Woodward may find landing Morata considerably more difficult and expensive than he first envisaged.

There is an argument that having chiseled his name into the most illustrious annal in world club football, winning the European Cup in three of the past four seasons and scoring the best part of 50 goals in each of his nine campaigns, there is nothing left for Ronaldo to achieve at Real Madrid.

But still, now 32, at a time when even he would have to concede the club has more than played its part in his almost pathological pursuit of multiple Ballon d'Ors (in terms of both who they have signed and who they haven't) would he risk starting afresh? If Ronaldo is still addicted to winning, which he almost certainly is, there is no better home for him than at the Spanish and European champions.

Whatever Mendes is telling Ronaldo's admirers, it seems more likely a desire to distance himself from the tax furore is currently behind his dissatisfaction with life in Spain than any real yearning to try another league.

Although Calderon claims if Ronaldo's mind is made up it won't be easy to change it, current incumbent Florentino Perez is hardly green when it comes to star names playing hardball. It may even be that he is thinking if Ronaldo goes now, of his own accord, it will smooth the way, and pay for, the acquisition of 18-year-old Monaco wonder kid Kylian Mbappe. In the wings, Marco Asensio doesn't look too shabby, either.

https://twitter.com/FanAnticsFC/status/876352333604691968

In winning the Champions League this past season, Zinedine Zidane's Madrid became only the second side since Arrigo Sacchi's majestic AC Milan outfit in 1990 to retain Europe's premier club trophy. They are an exceptional side with world-class players from front to back yet face accusations of lacking an identity.

In truth, their identity is Ronaldo. Watching coverage of the final, it was as though Brian Lara had turned up to a village cricket match and asked if anyone minded if he had a knock. Twenty-two great players, and the camera loved just one of them.

Both Zidane and his bosses will know that despite Ronaldo's claims to the contrary, he will not go on forever. In terms of ruthlessness, there will be nothing to pick between player and club, despite the common held assumption Ronaldo holds all the cards.

If Ronaldo is bluffing, he'd better hope Madrid don't call him on it. One only has to recall the dumbfounded looks etched on the malodorous mugs of Boris Johnson and Michael Gove on the morning of the Brexit result to realise if you say you want something, you'd better actually bloody want it. 

Even if Ronaldo's next side is unlikely to be a Scrubs XI (shame, it would make a great sequel to either Escape to Victory or Mean Machine), there's no dispute any besmirch on his character over tax issues would be catastrophic for a man who keeps a Warhol-like grip on the image he presents of himself to the outside world.

The American photographer Diane Arbus once said: "Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory." She could have been describing Ronaldo's Instagram account, the fifth-most followed in the world.

If Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Madrid, where’s his next selfie? pic.twitter.com/T6TU7w0Jv3

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 16, 2017

Shots of him hitting the gym are interspersed with action images that might as well have been taken off Getty. It's all a bit Zoolander with weights, yet bland enough a corporation could sign if off as an official account without amends—which perhaps shouldn't be too much of a surprise given Brand Ronaldo is bigger than most of them.

A sportsman who on the surface supersedes almost all others in his desire to tell the world who he is (the Ronaldo movie was only Bubbles away from being Michael Jackson-like), somehow, in terms of the important stuff, the private bits, maintains a vacuum-sealed existence that even J.D. Salinger might find a touch disconnected. He's clearly a slave to fame, but he never quite seems to know what to do with it.

What he chooses to say these days reveals less than nothing about who he really is. It's quite the feat, harder than it looks in an age when being in possession of a phone makes paparazzi of one and all of us. The writer Saul Bellow was on the money when he said: "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."

Viva Ronaldo...... 👀 @Cristiano

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 16, 2017

He has become the avatar for a generation infinitely more interested in a player's FIFA rating than personality. With his Kryten-shaped head and eyes that swivel as though they may be controlled by a little lever protruding out of the back, he has a robotic presence that somehow seems perfect for his rhythmic athleticism. He's Kraftwerk in shorts.

That's just my version. Ronaldo is a blank canvas to which we can all project our own versions of him on to. That canvas will start to look a bit different if it is covered with the taxman's doodles.

To talk of numbers when discussing the very best players the game has ever produced all feels a little uncouth, as though trying to gauge a great work of art on its size or the type of paint used. Yet with Ronaldo, the numbers somehow take on a beauty of their own.

517 - Cristiano Ronaldo has been directly involved in 517 goals in 394 appearances for Real Madrid (406 goals, 111 assists). Iconic. pic.twitter.com/7ZuPVezyKm

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 16, 2017

A club record 406 goals in his 394 appearances for Real Madrid is confirmation of genius without the need for a show reel. Then there's the 111 assists, the 42 hat-tricks, the three Champions Leagues and as many Ballon d'Ors over the same period. Roll such statistics around your tongue enough times and it starts to feel like forbidden fruit, ungodly in its otherworldliness.

As is always the case in football, eye-catching numbers on the field lead to eye-watering ones off it. Ronaldo currently earns around £400,000 a week post-tax, with Forbes having estimated he made £72.05 million last year from his salary, bonuses and endorsements.

If Ronaldo feels persecuted taking home that lot, then just maybe we won't have to suspend our disbelief for too much longer.

LFP President Javier Tebas has backed Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in his tax evasion case, saying he believes the icon is innocent of the charges.

Tebas told La Sexta (h/t Goal), "Knowing the environment and the professional that it is, I have no doubt that Cristiano is innocent. 

We live in a time when any news related to the Spanish treasury is to point out criminals. From what I have read, I am convinced that there is no crime."

Ronaldo has been accused of evading millions of Euros of taxations, prompting the superstar to reportedly want to leave La Liga.

Goal wrote: "Ronaldo is alleged to have committed four crimes between the years of 2011 and 2014 by hiding from the treasury the income generated in Spain by his image rights, which is a "voluntary and conscious" breach of one's tax obligations in the country."

Ronaldo is now seeking to leave the country and has told Real he is ready to leave, per Goal.

The LFP chief said his organisation would "suffer" if the four-time Ballon d’Or winner left Spanish football.

UEFA Euro 2016 holders Portugal meet Mexico in the latest edition of the Confederations Cup as the pair battle in Kazan, Russia.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates will be hoping to add further silverware to the trophy they won last summer as they stunned France in the final.

The Mexicans arrive in good shape and will feel they have a chance to win with Javier Hernandez in attack.

Here is how you can watch the Group A encounter:

       

Date: Sunday, June 18

Time: 4 p.m. (BST)/11 a.m. (ET)

TV: ITV1 (UK only), Fox (U.S. only)

Stream: ITV Hub, Fox Sports Go, fubo.tv

          

Preview and Prediction

Any team having to face Ronaldo are usually considered second favourites, and Portugal will believe their superstar gives them a huge advantage over the Mexicans in Russia.

However, Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has warned against focusing on just the Real Madrid icon as the two sides meet.

Tom Marshall of ESPN FC quoted the stopper ahead of the contest as he referenced the attacker.

"It's Portugal, not just Cristiano," said Ochoa. "We know what type of player he is, but aside from him, there are other quality players that we have to stop."

The Portuguese are blessed with creative quality, with Bernardo Silva, Ricardo Quaresma, Gelson Martins, Andre Gomes and Danilo Pereira all pushing for starts.

Silva is considered one of the brightest talents in Europe, and his recent move to Manchester City will showcase his talent on the Premier League stage next term.

The player was sublime for Monaco this past season, scoring eight goals and claiming nine assists in Ligue 1, according to WhoScored.com.

Hector Moreno should lead the defensive line for El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio, as the team attempts to provide Chicharito with a supply line.

Per WhoScored, Nestor Araujo could be drafted into the starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Chicharito scored only 11 goals in 26 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen last term, according to Squawka.

However, the striker remains his country's biggest threat against the quality and experience of Pepe.

Portugal are in excellent form, and they have responded with vigour to being the European champions.

Ronaldo has proved with Madrid he is still the alpha male of world football, despite his ageing legs, and he will want to be the hero against Mexico's versatile defence.

       

Prediction: Portugal win 2-1