Just four hours after Lionel Messi’s Argentina bowed out to France, Ronaldo Portugal’s lost 2-1 to Uruguay in a fiercely-contested Round of 16 clash in Sochi.

A pair of goals from Edinson Cavani, the first a sweet seventh-minute header at the end of a fine move and the second a gorgeous curling effort from the edge of the area just past the hour mark, proved to be the difference between the sides. A header from defender Pepe briefly pulled Portugal level 10 minutes after the break, but the European side was out-thought and outplayed on the night.

And so, Ronaldo, 33, comes up empty once more in soccer’s biggest tournament, a title that now looks likely to elude both of the modern game’s brightest stars.

Messi, who contributed on two goals for Argentina earlier in the day but was generally substandard compared to his usual levels, came close in 2014, losing in the final. Ronaldo has never gotten that far, with this year’s campaign following a group stage effort four years ago and another last 16 exit in 2010.

Uruguay’s defense never gave Ronaldo room to breathe and show off his full array of skills and his frustration was clear to see the longer the game progressed and elimination beckoned.

Cavani’s night ended early when he limped off with a leg injury, but it was he who’d had the defining impact on the contest, while Ronaldo was left to reflect on another World Cup campaign that promised much, yet ended in disappointment.

FT: It is all over in Sochi and Uruguay have hung on to win this last-16 clash 2-1 thanks to two Cavani goals either side of the break.

Pepe had briefly leveled matters 10 minutes into the second half, but it is the South Americans who now progress to a last-eight tie with France.

 

POST-MATCH STATS

• This is the first time Uruguay have won their opening four games to a World Cup tournament since 1930, with the fourth game in that run being their 4-2 victory over Argentina in the final.
• Portugal have now lost their last four World Cup matches in the knockout stages of the tournament, since a goalless draw with England in the 2006 quarter-final.
• Uruguay’s winning goal came from their only shot of any kind in the second half. They had just 30% possession after half-time.
• Edinson Cavani scored his 44th and 45th goals for Uruguay tonight. 12 of those have been assisted by Luis Suarez.
• Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani scored with both of his shots on target tonight.
• Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato & Andrzej Szarmach (5 for Poland) and Michael Ballack & Miroslav Klose (5 for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani & Luis Suarez (4).
• This was Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo’s 38th game in World Cups/European Championships – no player has played in more across the two competitions (level with Bastian Schweinsteiger).
• Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has played 514 minutes of football in the knockout stages of the World Cup, but has failed to score or provide an assist.
• Cristiano Ronaldo attempted six shots for Portugal tonight (one on target) – one more than the entire Uruguay team managed over the 90 minutes.
• At 35y 124d, Pepe became Portugal’s oldest ever goalscorer in a major tournament match (World Cup and European Championships).

 

GOAL! URUGUAY 1-1 PORTUGAL (Pepe 55)

Portugal are level as from a short corner worked to Guerreiro, the full back whips the ball in from the left-hand touchline straight on to the head of the unmarked Pepe. And the experienced centre back was going to miss from six yards out.

GOAL! URUGUAY 1-0 PORTUGAL (Cavani 7)

Wow, what a start as Uruguay take an early lead after a lovely flowing move sees Suarez pick up possession of the ball near the right touchline. And the Braca forward whips in a gorgeous ball to the far post, where Cavani rises high to head the ball home. In fact,I think that has come off the PSG striker’s face.

PORTUGAL TEAM NEWS

Team to play Uruguay: Patricio, Pepe, Guerreiro, Fonte, Pereira, Mario, Adrien Silva, Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo (c), Guedes

Subs: Lopes, Beto, Alves, Dias, Rui, Cedric, Fernandes, Moutinho, Fernandes, Quaresma, Silva, Martins