Ghana defender Alexander Djiku has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty kick against the Black Stars at the 2022 World Cup as “fake.”
The Portuguese skipper tumbled to the ground after Ghana’s Mohammed Salisu came over to close him down in what was a minimal shoulder barge.
Ronaldo stepped up to burry the resulting spot kick, scoring his first and only goal at the 2022 World Cup as Portugal secured a 3-2 win over Ghana.
Four years on after the incident, Alexander Djiku believes the penalty was undeserving.
“He got a fake penalty. It was not a penalty in remember,” Djiku told Beyond the Whistle.
Despite admitting Ronaldo went down softly, Djiku praised the 41-year-old for his ingenuity and awareness in the opposing box.
“In the box he is very clever. He is very, very dangerous.”
“Cristiano Ronaldo [is the toughest striker I’ve ever faced] in the World Cup in Qatar. That time it was not like when he was in Madrid. He just stays in the box,” he added.
Djiku missed out on the 2026 World Cup after suffering an injury but has recovered since and is preparing for the start of the 2026/27 season.
