The goal-scoring striker is suffering from a muscle injury sustained during the Champions League quarter-final loss to Real Madrid
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes said a goal awarded to him - the first of his two in a 2-0 win over Uruguay on Monday - might in fact have been scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, but what mattered was securing Portugal's place in the World Cup's next phase.
Fernandes was named as the scorer of Portugal's opening goal in the 54th minute when his cross seemed to sail just past the head of Ronaldo and dropped into the net with Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet confused by Ronaldo's leap.
Portugal's captain appeared to be claiming the goal with his celebrations and was then seen laughing when Fernandes was announced as the official scorer on the stadium's loudspeakers.
"The feeling I had was that Cristiano touched the ball. I was passing the ball to him," Fernandes told reporters. "What matters is that we're going through to the next round after playing a very tough opponent."
Fernandes added the second from the penalty spot late on after Uruguay were penalised for handball and he was chosen as man of the match.
The win guaranteed Portugal's progress to the last 16 in Qatar.
"I celebrated as if it had been Cristiano's goal, it seemed to me that he had touched the ball, my aim was to cross the ball for him," Fernandes said.
"What's important is that we were able to go to the next round and (secure) a very important win against a very tough opponent."
Fernandes warned that Portugal would have to be at their best in their final group match on Friday against South Korea, with a point enough to guarantee them top spot in Group H.
"We know we will find a very organised team in front of us with a huge skill-set, as we've seen in their last matches," added Fernandes.
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"We've played at different times and that has allowed us to watch South Korea play. Our objective is to win every match, and we have one ahead of us."
Portugal coach Fernando Santos chose to praise the whole team instead of focusing on Fernandes.
"I think it's the result of the team's work," said Santos. "If the team does not play well then the player himself will not have a good performance.
"I think in the first two games, the team has played well. Diogo Costa (the Portugal goalkeeper) saved two important shots, so I don't think we should be focusing on individual players."
The goal-scoring striker is suffering from a muscle injury sustained during the Champions League quarter-final loss to Real Madrid
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