For years, Edinson Cavani has shouldered the burden of every marquee striker. He’s notched 228 league goals for Palermo, Napoli, and Paris Saint-Germain over the past 12 seasons, claimed titles in each domestic league he has appeared in, topped all goalscorers in France two years running, and captured the Copa América with Uruguay in 2011. And still, tabloids from Paris to Montevideo have often maligned the striker. He isn’t clutch, they said. He folds in the biggest moments. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Check out all of The Ringer’s coverage On Saturday, against Portugal in the World Cup round of 16, Cavani addressed that ire head-on. The 31-year-old striker — one of the two most prolific forwards in La Celeste’s history — scored twice before hobbling off with a hamstring injury in the 74th minute, delivering Uruguay a 2–1 victory and a quarterfinals date Friday with France. Cavani’s first was the result of a beautiful build-up play between himself and Luis Suárez, the only Uruguayan with more goals to his name. After holding off a persistent Portuguese attack during the game’s opening minutes, Uruguay found a window. Cavani switched the field with a 40-yard pass to Suárez, who corralled it, sized up Portuguese right back Ricardo Pereira, and launched an inch-perfect cross into the box. Cavani met the ball behind the back line and bodied it just past Rui Patricio to put the South Americans up, 1–0. It was Uruguay’s first shot of the contest. It was not Cavani’s last. Suarez finds Cavani at the back post to put Uruguay up 1-0 early in the game! pic.twitter.com/BUlHpqWSI0 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018 In the 62nd minute, after Pepe equalized with a header off a corner kick, it was again Cavani who gave Uruguay the advantage. Rodrigo Bentancur corralled a ball at the center of the pitch and threaded it between four Portuguese defenders to find Cavani unmarked. An anxious or less-skilled striker might have hesitated, or tried to dribble the ball deeper into the box. Instead, Cavani calmly measured his steps, never once breaking eye contact with his target, and swung at the rolling ball on his first touch. No keeper would have had a chance to stop it as it curled deliciously past Patricio into the bottom corner of the net. PURE. CLASS. Cavani one-times a curler into the back of the net to re-take the lead for Uruguay. pic.twitter.com/JZhmTqE1s4 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018 Entering the game, most anticipated a dull affair, punctuated by a few quick counter attacks. It was anything but. After falling into an early hole, Portugal stayed on their front feet, taking 20 shots to Uruguay’s five, and winning 10 corners. In the second half, Portugal outshot their foes 12–1, with the lone Uruguayan strike coming from Cavani’s boot. The early exit will be a disappointment to Portuguese fans, who clamored for a repeat of 2016’s European championships, when Portugal used an opportunistic counterattack to bully their way to a continental title. A round of 16 matchup with Uruguay — described by some as a game between the Uruguay of Europe versus the Portugal of South America — was less ideal than playing Russia, Group B victors Spain’s opposition on Sunday. Still, Portugal had every opportunity to equalize, and held more than two-thirds of possession in the loss. When France bested Argentina in Kazan on Saturday morning, it meant saying goodbye to Messi, a legend of the game. The same is true of the outcome in Sochi. Uruguay’s well-rounded squad gives them a better chance of moving on in the coming days, but Portugal’s loss potentially means the last we’ll see of Ronaldo at a World Cup. The Real Madrid forward is 33, and will inevitably decline in coming years (though his physique would beg to differ). If this was his World Cup curtain call, he certainly made his mark. He played every minute for his team and tallied four goals, including this free kick to cap a hat trick in their 3–3 opener with Spain. Take a bow, Cristiano Ronaldo. pic.twitter.com/pXEWrsB5gV — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 15, 2018 Four years from now, in Qatar, Ronaldo may still be pacing up and down the Portuguese flank, fighting off father time at the age of 37. But for now, the focus moves to Uruguay. There’s no word yet on how serious Cavani’s injury is, but even without him, they have the talent to challenge France. Coming into the World Cup, most agreed that if Uruguay had any hope of making a deep run, they’d need consistent output from their two attacking stars, Cavani and Suárez, and steady play in the back from defensive stalwarts and Atlético Madrid teammates Diego Godín and José María Giménez. In the preliminary round, Suárez and Cavani combined for three goals and the defense didn’t allow a single goal in their three-game sweep — a first for a nation that won two of the first four World Cups and has participated in 13 of the 21. That success is striking, but with Cavani nursing a hamstring injury, this could be the end of Uruguay’s road. “I hope it’s nothing,” Cavani told reporters after the match. “We’ll see what happens, we’ll do exams.” Even if he misses the next match, it will be hard for detractors to ever question him again in the clutch.<doc-sep>MOSCOW, Russia (AP) — Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have combined to give Uruguay at 1-0 lead at halftime against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in the round of 16 game at the World Cup. Cavani jumped to meet a cross by Luis Suarez in the seventh minute to open the scoring at Sochi. Cavani started the play on the other side of the field before running to meet the Suarez cross. Suarez almost made it 2-0 with a low free kick that was saved by Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio in the 22nd. Portugal kept possession but was not able to break through the Uruguayan defence. Apart from a free kick, Ronaldo did not have many clear chances to add to his four goals at the tournament. Uruguay is the only team yet to concede a goal at the World Cup. The winner in Sochi will play France, which beat Argentina 4-3 earlier today in Kazan.<doc-sep>Both of these sides are led by star power, and there’s no reason to think that won’t be on display in Sochi. That means watching Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and Luis Suarez for Uruguay. Ronaldo likely will be Portugal’s only scoring threat. The side struggled to find rhythm against Morocco and Iran, teams that put 11 men behind the ball and took away extra time and space. But there are always set pieces and weird bounces. Ronaldo will get his chances, and if Portugal has high hopes of winning, they rest on his feet. Suarez, on the other hand, plays in a more balanced offense and can look to Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain) and Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid) for scoring help. Also keep an eye on Carlos Sanchez, who has two assists.<doc-sep>Coincidence? Yes, but it's pleasing nonetheless... Let’s all take a minute to appreciate Uruguay’s old-school strike partnership. Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez were imperious in defence but Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani’s double act was just as influential in Portugal’s demise. Getty Images - Getty 2 Ying meet Yang The two prolific goalscorers were born in the same town just three weeks apart and the pair of them have been international team-mates for a decade now. This is their third World Cup together and their chemistry is as strong as ever. The pair have combined for four goals already this tournament. Cavani opened the scoring in Sochi after a long-range one-two with Suarez. The PSG marksman popped up at the back post to convert Suarez’s whipped cross. Reuters 2 If one doesn’t get you, the other will Those with good memories would have instantly been reminded of Suarez’s opening goal against England at the last World Cup. On that occasion, it was Cavani who provided the cross for Suarez. The two goals are noticeably similar; with the point of the cross and the finisher’s position in the box almost identical. Check it out… 4 años después, Luis le devolvió la gentileza a Edi. pic.twitter.com/h1IvKnAFV0 — Pases Uruguay (@PasesuruguayOK) June 30, 2018 Both games ended 2-1 to Uruguay with first Suarez, then Cavani, going on to complete a brace with a sensational winner. The symmetry is as pleasing is it is ultimately meaningless. This is what we live for.<doc-sep>
Uruguay played a perfect group stage against relatively weak opponents to make it to the Round of 16, but the South American side proved it has what it takes to make a deep run at the World Cup by sending the reigning European champions home on Saturday. The Uruguayan defense allowed its first goal of the World Cup, but Edinson Cavani scored twice to power Uruguay to the quarterfinals. Cavani and Luis Suarez unlocked the Portuguese defense early with two incredible cross-field passes. Just a few steps inside Portugal’s half, Cavani hit Suarez with a pinpoint cross over the top of the back line, and immediately made a run behind the Portuguese defense. Suarez held up play for a few seconds to give Cavani time to arrive at the goal, then cut back and laced a perfect cross that ricocheted off Cavani’s face and into the back of the net. Suarez finds Cavani at the back post to put Uruguay up 1-0 early in the game! pic.twitter.com/BUlHpqWSI0 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018 Portugal equalized the game on a Pepe header in the 55th minute, but Uruguay regained the lead seven minutes later on a break from a goal kick. Pepe headed the ball down directly to Uruguay’s Nahitan Nández, who pushed forward and slid a pass over to Cavani at the edge of the penalty area. Before he gave Ricardo Pereira any chance to close him down, Cavani placed a clinical first-time strike back across the goal and into the back of the net. PURE. CLASS. 🔥 Cavani one-times a curler into the back of the net to re-take the lead for Uruguay. pic.twitter.com/JZhmTqE1s4 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018 The goals raised Cavani’s total to three in the 2018 World Cup. He had scored just one goal in each of the last two World Cups in South Africa and Brazil, and both came in losing efforts. Cavani was forced to leave the game in the 74th minute and limped off the field with the assistance of Cristiano Ronaldo.