Two teams in disarray faced off in Russia’s only subtropical climate - something had to give.

In normal circumstances, four of Portugal’s World Cup squad walking out of their club contracts in response to an attack on them at Sporting CP training, by their own fans, would make all the headlines.

Spain: “hold my beer”.

Sacking coach Julen Lopetegui three days before their first World Cup match is unprecedented, and left the Spanish media dumbfounded. Lopetegui departs unbeaten, leaving incoming boss Fernando Hierro no time at all to prepare for a clash with the European champions - the very definition of loco.

Ronaldo did make the headlines having been handed a suspended jail term for tax evasion this week, but with all the chaos in both camps overshadowing such an announcement, nobody was talking about him, nobody, and that will have hurt someone who almost relies upon the limelight.

Soon enough and the press pack were back scratching for superlatives. Ronaldo’s early penalty, which he won himself, gave Portugal the perfect start, as it looked like a gran desastre was unfolding on the Russia Riviera for Spain.

Yet, after Diego Costa’s brilliantly determined equaliser, the old Spain returned, and Portugal simply couldn’t cope, before something even more unthinkable occurred - a David de Gea error - which put Portugal back in front.

Ronaldo, though, was a man on a mission. At 33-years-old, you’d forgive him for slowing, but his personal crusade to remain the best player in the world knows no bounds. No Spain player could keep up with him as Portugal launched two counter attacks late in the first half.

Ronaldo, on the left, sprinted clear of the pack on both occasions, but was let down by poor touches from team-mates.

“When Cristiano is in form, he decides everything for us,” Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva said after the game. “When he is scoring goals like this for us then everything is possible. He is used to nights like this."

Yet, as ever with Ronaldo, he angers as many as he pleases.

“Ronaldo has a bit of a habit of throwing himself to the ground,” Spain defender Gerard Pique told reporters after the match.

“I am very proud of my players," Hierro protested. “When you have a player in front of you like Cristiano, things like this can happen, but I would not trade even one of them for Cristiano.”

He is a controversial character, of that there can be no question. He hung his leg out looking for that penalty in the first half, but the goal that saved Portugal from what could have been a damaging defeat was simply divine.

A man at home with thrashing free-kicks towards goal with blistering power, Ronaldo showed even he is willing to change his style, as he curled a sublime effort into the top corner to earn his side a point.

Portugal don’t lose World Cup games when going ahead, period. In 14 games at football’s showpiece tournament before Thursday's Sochi showdown, they have won 13 and drawn one, and in competitive matches since the last World Cup, they have been beaten just once.

This record remains intact because of one man. Portugal played well in patches, with Goncalo Guedes particularly impressing in attack, but when it came down to finishing off the fine, flowing football, nobody else could step up.

The chances came and went, or the final pass was missing, so it was left to Ronaldo to do his thing, and regain his place as the focus of the watching world.

Outside the stadium, fans sang his name long into the night as they left the Sochi Olympic Village behind. Late night photographs were plentiful with the awe-inspiring Fisht Olympic Stadium illuminated in the background, but everyone was pointing to one name on the back of their shirts.

While the Lionel Messi and Ronaldo debate dominated conversations once more, Ronaldo has stolen an early march - when you produce the goods on the grandest of stages, with the biggest of audiences, you garner the most admirers.

His celebration, indicating he regards himself as the GOAT (greatest of all time) was typical of the fortitude of the man, but when he nets a hat-trick against one of the favourites for the World Cup in this manner to save his nation once more, there’s credence behind the arrogance. Write Ronaldo out of the headlines at your peril.