India, June 24 -- With elation pasted on his face like a young boy who has scored his first goal, Cristiano Ronaldo raced to the Portugal bench, falling into the arms of his teammates and hugging Diogo Dalot.

The sixth minute strike against Uzbekistan in World Cup Group K in Houston was an appropriate lift-off, especially after he had failed to score for 10 consecutive matches at major tournaments. However, it was only as the team moments were ending that Ronaldo, somewhat hesitantly, moved up and produced his iconic siuuu goal celebration. He did it more to oblige photographers and all those fans in Ronaldo shirts in the stands.

The hesitation was understandable, even for one of this century's footballing greats with little left to pro...