"I took Ronaldo's place and scored a fantastic goal," Mendes reveals the secret behind the free-kick goal: "A planned tactic"... Even the cameraman and the goalkeeper were fooled

*This content was translated by AI.

Portugal national team defender Nuno Mendes (24, Paris Saint-Germain) revealed the secret behind successfully taking a free kick in place of Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al Nassr).

On the 24th (Korean time), Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 at Houston Stadium in Texas, USA, in the 2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup group stage K-match 2, led by Ronaldo's two goals. Having drawn 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the first match, Portugal managed to turn the tide with a decisive victory today.

The spotlight of today's match fell squarely on Ronaldo. Scoring consecutive goals in the 6th and 39th minutes of the first half, Ronaldo set a new, unprecedented record for "scoring in six consecutive World Cups." Additionally, with a total of 10 goals in World Cup history, he surpassed Eusébio to rewrite Portugal's all-time World Cup goal record.

Mendes' precise free-kick goal in the 17th minute of the first half, amidst Ronaldo's historic achievements, also drew significant attention. While everyone expected Ronaldo to take the free kick earned from the penalty line, Mendes unexpectedly struck a low shot that shook the net. It was a tactic that caught the opponent off guard.

Portugal's "Hercord" reported today that "Mendes stated that his free-kick goal was not a simple impulsive act, but the result of a thoroughly trained tactic."

After the match, Mendes emphasized, "Everyone expected Ronaldo to take the free kick, but this was a tactic practiced in advance." He continued, "Our team has many players who can take the kick, and such situations may arise in the future. Since the opposing goalkeeper left the center open, I focused more on slightly changing the direction rather than applying strong force," explaining the scoring situation.

He also maintained a calm attitude regarding the criticism that poured in after the first match's draw. Mendes said, "Criticism is natural, and we are accustomed to such situations. Our squad possesses a strong bond of mutual support." He further drew a line, stating, "External opinions do not matter. We focus solely on our play on the field and the coach's instructions."

He expressed his firm determination to advance as the group winner. Mendes said, "Like all teams, we have our goals, but we must take it one match at a time. Our primary objective is to win the final group stage match against Colombia and advance as the group winner. We will recover well and show a good performance in the next match," he vowed.

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*This content was translated by AI.