‘His goals have come from set-pieces, penalties or mistakes’: Cesc Fabregas on Cristiano Ronaldo

Cesc Fabregas has hinted that Cristiano Ronaldo’s goalscoring return at the World Cup has had an element of luck about it.

The Real Madrid forward has bagged four goals for Portugal in their two games so far at the competition in Russia, making him the top scorer at the tournament.

He made his mark with a hat-trick against Spain, including a dramatic late free-kick to level the tie at 3-3, before scoring again against Morocco in Portugal’s second match.

But Cesc Fabregas said his goals have come from ‘set-pieces, penalties or mistakes’

But Chelsea midfielder Fabregas does not believe Ronaldo’s goals have been that impressive. 

Fabregas wrote for the BBC: ‘These days, Cristiano Ronaldo has a very different role for Portugal – he mainly stays up front and you no longer see him running all over the pitch.

‘He is one of the big names in Russia who has made a strong start to this World Cup, in terms of goals, with four so far.

‘Yes, he is playing well, but if you really look at what he has done, he has scored one penalty, one free-kick, one goal from a corner and one with a shot that David de Gea should have saved.

Ronaldo headed home from a corner in Portugal’s second game against Morocco

The Real Madrid forward struck a free-kick in the last minute against Spain in his first game

‘You cannot say that he and Portugal have shown great combinations or tiki-taka football to score great goals.

‘You have to give him credit, of course, but his goals have come from set-pieces, penalties or mistakes.’

Portugal face Iran in their final group game next week.