Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score at five World Cup tournaments when he lashed home a penalty against Ghana on Thursday night.However, the manner in which the former Manchester United striker won the penalty in the first place wasn't without its controversy with many fans and pundits alike thinking that it was a soft decision by the match officials.Going down under pressure from Mohammed Salisu in the box, it was one of those incidents that could certainly be filed under the 'soft penalty' umbrella when instant replays started to break down the amount of contact.
Why was Ronaldo's penalty controversial?
But even more telling than supporters scratching their heads at the sight of Ronaldo's penalty was the fact that those well versed in the law of the game were also expressing their bewilderment.
Take newly-retired Mike Dean, for example, who rather emphatically declared that VAR had gotten the decision wrong, which is a rare sight amongst officials-cum-pundits.
According to the Daily Mail, the former Premier League referee said: "The defender clearly plays the ball. Ronaldo then touches the back of the defender, goes down, instigated contact.
"It's not the referee's fault – he's given the decision on the field of play. The VAR, in my opinion, should have got involved and invited the referee over to have a look at it."
Video: Mike Dean on Ronaldo's controversial penalty vs Ghana
Dean then added: "It's scary, I have to say. I'm just astounded. I like to back referees all the time but you can't support stuff like that. You can't defend the indefensible.
"It should have been overturned. He should have gone to the screen, he should have looked at it.
"There may have been some technical glitch that we don't know about. I just can't understand why he wasn't sent to the screen. 100 per cent it's wrong."
As such, the combination of fan outrage and expert criticism maligning the decision has led to a situation where it's been widely accepted that Ronaldo was rather fortunate to win Portugal's penalty that paved the way for his historic goal.
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What did FIFA say about Ronaldo's penalty?
At least, that seems to be the case for the most part, because there actually appeared to be a great deal of reverence for how Ronaldo won his penalty at a FIFA briefing on Saturday morning.
In fact, FIFA technical study group (TSG) member Sunday Oliseh - who played at the 1998 World Cup with Nigeria - even went so far as to call Ronaldo a "total genius" in regards to the controversy at Stadium 974.
The TSG, for reference, is the team headed up by Arsene Wenger that studies each match to provide data analysis and notes on performance trends.
And according to the BBC, Oliseh mused at the briefing: "Maybe the strikers are getting smarter?
"The Ronaldo penalty, people can say what they want about him, but the smartness to wait for that second, to touch the ball, continue his leg and then get the contact. That is total genius.
"Let's give strikers the compliment for getting smarter. VAR is also a major reason why this (more penalties being awarded) is happening. Referees can look at it three or four times."
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group H - Portugal v Ghana - Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar - November 24, 2022 Ghana's Mohammed Salisu concedes a penalty against Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo REUTERS/Carl Recine
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Well, well, well, that's perhaps not how fans might have expected a FIFA analyst to view the Ronaldo situation: essentially acknowledging that there is indeed a knack to winning spot-kicks.
While that is, of course, something we all know deep down, it's nevertheless jarring to hear from somebody involved in FIFA a player being praised for leaning into that reality of the game.
And like he says, it's inevitable that penalties will become more common in the age of VAR with instant replays and camera angles delving deeper and deeper into whether or not a foul had been committed.
So although it feels as though the vast majority of the world face-palmed at the sight of Ronaldo winning his spot-kick against Ghana, we suspect that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner himself might be more inclined to agree with Oliseh than Dean.
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