Izuchukwu OkosiEmbattled Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in a statistical worst XI from the World Cup by data providers Sofascore after he endured a torrid time for his national team at the tournament in Qatar.
Two Australians and a United States player have also been included in the XI while a World Cup winner as well as a regular starter for Chelsea have made the team.
Players had to make a minimum of four appearances to feature in the worst XI.
Ronaldo scored just once for his country and had to suffer the ignominy of being dropped to the bench by Fernando Santos for their last-16 clash with Switzerland and their shock quarter-final defeat to Morocco.
The five-time Ballon D’Or winner reportedly threatened to leave the Portuguese camp during a heated meeting with Santos after he found out he had been dropped for the Switzerland game, albeit this was quickly debunked by the country’s FA and the player.
The Portuguese forward who is currently training at Real Madrid’s facilities according to Sofascore is partnered up front by Lautaro Martinez despite the striker being part of the Argentina’s World Cup triumph
READ ALSO: Portugal Book Round Of 16 Ticket, Uruguay Target Ghana Defeat
Martinez, who failed to score for Argentina in Qatar in 148 minutes of action across the entire tournament, was given a rating of just 6.35.
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has also been selected by Sofascore in their worst XI with a rating of just 6.30.
Mendy struggled for African champions Senegal, who reached the last-16 before being knocked out by England, as his errors cost the African champions in their 2-0 defeat to Holland in their Group A opener.
The 30-year-old had lost his place as Chelsea’s No 1 prior to the tournament and his problems continued at the World Cup – but he kept his spot in the Senegal team throughout.
Sergino Dest, who is contracted to Barcelona but is on loan at AC Milan, takes the right back slot having been given a paltry rating of 6.50.
Kamil Glik and Bartosz Bereszyński of Poland, who were criticised for their negative tactics and displays in Qatar, and Senegal centre back Abdou Diallo complete the back four.
Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie of Australia were picked in the midfield alongside South Korea’s Hwang In-beom and Switzerland’s Ruben Vargas.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
Follow Us