Suarez v Ronaldo clash in Uruguay v Portugal in the last 16

World Cup last 16: Uruguay vs Portugal sees Ronaldo and Suarez go head-to-head

Football

Sat June 30, 2018 · 7y ago

The mouth-watering last 16 game between Uruguay and Portugal sees Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez go head-to-head, but who'll come out on top?

The South American side swept group A, beating every team in their path whilst Portugal were denied top spot by Spain in Group B thanks to some late VAR controversy.

The game not only pits two of the best teams in the competition against each other, but it also sees two world-class strikers collide as Barcelona’s Luis Suarez and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo go head-to-head.

With both La Liga forwards boasting incredible goal scoring records, we take a closer look at the comparison between the El Classico strikers.

Suarez's Uruguay are 7/4 to win in 90 minutes, whereas Ronaldo's Portugal are at 2/1. The game to go the distance and be decided on penalties is at 9/2.

Form

Former Liverpool front-man Suarez arrived at the World Cup with 25 goals in Barcelona's La Liga triumph, but despite this return there were still suggestions that the Uruguayan is not as sharp as he once was. Suarez has scored twice in Russia without looking at his best, while Ronaldo - now 33 and having also faced criticism that his abilities are diminishing - has four World Cup goals. His brilliant hat-trick against Spain was one of the World Cup's great individual shows, making him 5/1 with Sky Bet to win the Golden Boot.

It was all smiles for Luis Suarez after victory over Russia

Style

Suarez has built his reputation on being a constant pest to opponents, troubling defenders with his aggression, touch and ability to finish under pressure. He continues to play the game on the edge like no other. Ronaldo is not the devastating winger of his youth, when his pace and trickery bemused full-backs across the world. He has morphed into a goal-scoring machine - maybe football's finest - and now does his most of his damage from central positions.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal against Morocco

Temperament

Suarez's explosive temperament has led to an unwanted disciplinary record. He was found guilty of biting at Ajax and Liverpool, and endured a similar incident with Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini which consequently ended his 2014 World Cup and earned him a four-month ban from football. Ronaldo has also had moments of madness, notably picking up a five-match ban for pushing the referee during the 2017 Spanish Super Cup final. He was also perhaps fortunate to escape a red card with a swinging arm on an Iranian opponent during Monday's 1-1 draw.

Suarez's deliberate handball helped Uruguay through to the semi-finals in 2010

Record

Suarez has yet to finish a World Cup alongside his Uruguayan team-mates. He was sent off in the 2010 quarter-final victory against Ghana for deliberately handling the ball on the goal-line before his 2014 World Cup was ended by the Chiellini incident. Two goals in Russia mean Suarez has now scored seven times in 10 appearances at the World Cup, and is at 28/1 to win the Golden Bo ot. Ronaldo had only managed three goals in 13 games from the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments. But he matched that total with his hat-trick against Spain, and now has seven goals in 16 appearances.