I can tell you it was a very tough week, a difficult week, a week in which public opinion was very harsh on us, all the players, especially the coach,” he said after the game in Houston, where he was named man of the match.

Whenever things go well, Cristiano is good; when things go badly, he’s retired, he’s old. It will always be like that. But it was a good response for me and my team-mates.”

Asked about joining Lionel Messi, who has scored five goals so far, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, Ronaldo said: “I always get there. Maybe late, but I’m there.