João Félix strike for Portugal enough to sink Wales but Ronaldo fever falls flat

There was a comic-strip feel to another eventful evening in the world of Cristiano Ronaldo. Where to start? It was the 67th minute when his No 7 went up on the fourth official’s board, prompting Ronaldo to remove the captain’s armband from his left bicep before departing to a universal ovation, but for the pocket of Wales supporters.

The referee, Donatas Rumsas, hurried him off the pitch but Ronaldo, his hair glazed copper, was presumably ruminating on a series of missed chances, a sitter from a few yards at the start of the second half, and a disallowed goal. The grandiose “Siu” celebration went to waste, though try telling that to the locals who worship him. In the end, Portugal earned a narrow Nations League victory courtesy of another Al-Nassr forward, João Félix’s first-half strike from the edge of the box beating Danny Ward in the Wales goal. Nuno Mendes, among the Portugal…