Cristiano Ronaldo sends out simple 10-word message after bailing Portugal out against Scotland on first substitute appearance for his country since 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo posted a simple 10-word message after bailing out Portugal in their dramatic UEFA Nations League win over Scotland.

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• All-time great named among substitutes
• Stepped off the bench to grab dramatic winner
• Now has 901 career goals to his name

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay opened the scoring at Estadio da Luz – the home of Lisbon-based giants Benfica – inside seven minutes. Ronaldo was on the bench at that point, having dropped out of Roberto Martinez’s starting XI.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  He was introduced at the interval, with Portugal in need of inspiration, and saw Bruno Fernandes restore parity nine minutes into the second half. The stage was set for somebody to be a hero, and Ronaldo stepped up once again as he grabbed an 88th-minute winner.

• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  Ronaldo had also been on target against Croatia, taking him to 900 career goals, and posted on social media of contributing to a faultless start being made in another Nations League campaign by the 2019 winners of that competition: “Two games, two wins. Thanks for all the support, Portugal!”

• WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo, at 39 years of age, remains captain of club and country. He will now head back to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, with the evergreen frontman set to play a prominent role there after being named on the bench by Portugal for the first time since a World Cup quarter-final clash with Morocco at Qatar 2022.