It says it all about Cristiano Ronaldo’s career that a goalless display at Hampden was perhaps the most unusual thing about the Portugal icon’s return to Scotland.
And that was during a three-day trip that included getting caught on video flying down a waterslide in Loch Lomond and training at St Mirren’s home ground.
On his Hampden bow, and first appearance in Scotland in 16 years, men’s football’s all-time leading international scorer failed to add to his outrageous tally on a frustrating night at the national stadium.
An evening of anguish for the 39-year-old was engineered by a makeshift defence that stood firm as the depleted hosts took the first step on a potential road to recovery.
There was a surreal moment on social media on Sunday night when a video showed Ronaldo throwing himself down a waterslide at the hotel Portugal were based at.
The only thing missing was the noise of the Al Nassr striker’s trademark ‘siu’ celebration echoing round the plastic flume as he flew down it.
Then there was the sight of the former Real Madrid and Manchester United legend training at St Mirren’s stadium as an adoring crowd waited outside for a glimpse of the superstar.
Ronaldo-mania had swept over Scotland at the same pace as the Portugal captain’s stroppy march down the Hampden tunnel at the full-time whistle.
Fans from China, Nepal, Ukraine and Kurdistan were in attendance – and they were not there to see Grant Hanley.
Away from the countless homemade signs in the crowd requesting Ronaldo’s shirt, there was a game to be played.
There have been suggestions that it is perhaps the time for the forward to take a supporting role, but he was front and centre of the show in Glasgow.
At one point, Sportsound pundit Steven Thompson said the striker was even “refereeing the game”.
His first sight of goal, an early left-foot strike, felt ominous for the hosts, but that was the first of four shots – all from inside the box – that Ronaldo, on his 200th Portugal start, failed to score with.
There were jeers from the home crowd for each of his 34 touches, plus ironic cheers for every missed effort, including an acrobatic overhead attempt that had shades of his famous bicycle kick goal against Juventus for Real in 2018.
Frustration then boiled over as animated hand waving was aimed the way of team-mate Rafael Leao late in the game.
And there was time for some sarcastic clapping and berating when the referee blew the final whistle, before he stormed off.
A Scotland defence consisting of Hanley, Anthony Ralston, John Souttar and Andy Robertson, with returning 41-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon behind them, deserve credit for Ronaldo’s venting.
It could be argued that only captain Robertson would be guaranteed a starting place if Steve Clarke had a fully fit squad to pick from, given Celtic’s Ralston and Norwich’s Hanley are struggling for minutes at club level.
Meanwhile, Souttar and Gordon, who made a crucial late save to deny Bruno Fernandes, had to deal with the pain of being cut from the Euro 2024 squad.
That unlikely backline ensured Scotland’s poor run did not stretch to what would have been a record fifth straight defeat with a gutsy and well-organised display against star-studded opposition.
The goalless draw is Scotland’s first clean sheet since their friendly win over Gilbraltar in June. Competitively, it is their first in more than a year – since a 3-0 win in Cyprus in September 2023.
On the performances of centre-back pairing Souttar and Hanley, Clarke said: “They were both excellent. John is playing every week with Rangers so he has that little bit more fitness.
“Grant, who isn’t playing at Norwich, you have to give credit after putting in those two performances [against Croatia and Portugal]. The players dug in and ground out a really good point for us.
“The fans can be nervous when the opposition have so much possession. But when they did create a big chance, Craig was there to save it. It’s the first time in a long time I have celebrated a save.
“It’s not about turning a corner. It’s just about working hard and not letting the country down. You could see that tonight.”
