RONALD-WOAH World Cup 2018: Cristiano Ronaldo gives Portugal fourth-minute lead over Morocco… and becomes Europe’s all-time leading international goalscorer

Cristiano Ronaldo scored early against Morocco to net his 85th goal for Portugal

CRISTIANO RONALDO gave Portugal a fourth-minute lead over Morocco... and became Europe's all-time leading international goalscorer in the process.

The Real Madrid star, 33, netted his fourth goal of the tournament and 85th for Portugal, breaking Ferenc Puskas' 62-year record.

Cristiano Ronaldo is now Europe's all-time leading international goalscorer

Ronaldo was quick out of the blocks today as he continued his hot form following his hat-trick heroics against Spain.

The former Manchester United star kicked-off this tournament with 81 goals for his nation.

But his ridiculous performance against neighbours Spain - including a sensational last-gasp, free-kick equaliser - saw him go level with another Real legend, Puskas.

And it took him just four minutes to overtake the Hungarian icon, who netted 84 goals in just 89 games.

Cristiano Ronaldo has already got one hand on the Golden Boot this World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo has already got one hand on the Golden Boot this World Cup

Ferenc Puskas had held the record for 62 years with 84 goals for Hungary

Ali Daei holds the world record for international goals with 109

It's taken Ronaldo 151 caps to surpass that long-time tally... and he'll now have his eye on the world record, rather than just European.

Ronaldo is already No2 on the global list - trailing Iran's Ali Daei, who scored a mind-boggling 109 goals in just 149 games between 1993 and 2006.

To put CR7's incredible achievement into perspective, Brazil legend Pele is only No7 on the list with 77 international goals.

And old frenemy Lionel Messi? He's down in joint-18th with 64 goals for Argentina.

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP™ Kante keeps his midfield secrets under wraps

The low-profile Bleus man is a vital cog in the France midfield
Kante won possession a match-high 14 times against Australia
Next match: France v Peru
By Adrien Gingold with France
Ngolo Kante won his first cap for France against Russia on 29 March 2016. Two years and 25 caps later, he is making his FIFA World Cup™ debut as an indispensable part of Les Bleus line-up. And he has achieved that status by doing what he has always done, wherever he has played: by winning and recovering possession, all without saying a word.

Kante came in through the door, shook hands, and took a seat, a typically discreet smile on his face. Describing his first taste of the World Cup, the 27-year-old midfielder told FIFA: “Arriving in Russia was special. It’s taken a lot of work and effort to get here and I feel very proud.”

When it comes to work, Kante, who hails from Paris’ tenth arrondissement, is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in, especially when it comes to dispatching his midfield duties. An example of that came in the 2014/15 season. Still at Caen at the time, he racked up an average of 5.3 tackles per match during the French league campaign, more than any other player in Europe’s five major championships. If ball-winning were an art form, Kante would be a museum piece.

The English Premier League’s Player of the Season for 2016/17 was at his ball-winning best against Australia, regaining possession 14 times in all, though he was quick to play down that statistic.

“What matters to me is winning. It was vital for us to come away with three points,” he said, before heaping praise on one of his team-mates: “Sometimes there are vital defensive situations that can change the outcome of a match. And on Saturday, without Hugo Lloris, we’d have gone 1-0 down in the 20th minute. We were all grateful to him.”

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Speaking in a low voice and almost apologetic tone, the Chelsea player continued to deflect attention away from himself: “I’m just a defensive player. It’s the lowest position. I’ve got the ball-carriers in front of me, and it’s our job as midfielders to link up with the defence and pick out the forwards so we can create chances.” Described by Frank Lampard as the best midfielder in the world, Kante is reluctant to say any more about his art.

Up next for France are Peru, a side he has been keeping an eye on: “They play with a lot of intensity and commitment and give it all they’ve got.” That match will give Kante another opportunity to win possession time and again, and all without a word out of place or any visible signs of irritation.

Calmly rising to his feet, he shook hands once more and left through the door he came in, having left us none the wiser as to who he really is. Modest Kante is a man who keeps himself to himself and his secrets firmly under wraps.

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP™ Ronaldo grabs winner, Morocco eliminated

Cristiano Ronaldo scores fourth goal at Russia 2018

Morocco first to be eliminated

​RELIVE: As it happened, stats, press conferences and more

Cristiano Ronaldo was the star man for Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ for the second match running, scoring the winner against Morocco at the Luzhniki Stadium to eliminate the North Africans. After his hat-trick heroics against Spain in his side's opener claimed a single point, one goal was enough to secure all three today.

Morocco played their part in an enthralling match, their vociferous fans cheering their side on for consistent waves of attack against the stern Portuguese defence. Younes Belhanda came closest for the Atlas Lions, but his header was superbly kept out by Rui Patricio.

In the end, it was a decisive header from Ronaldo that claimed the win, his strike coming after just four minutes. Portugal will come up against a familiar face in Carlos Queiroz in their final Group B fixture, while Morocco will have purely pride to play for when they face Spain.