Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo Scores With Header In Portugal’s 1-0 Confederations Cup Win Vs Russia

Cristiano Ronaldo may be going through a difficult time with Real Madrid following accusations of tax fraud, but he is evidently still seeing great success in his international soccer career.

Cristiano Ronaldo Scores in Portugal’s 1-0 Win vs Russia

The 32-year-old forward scored early on Wednesday to lift Portugal to a 1-0 victory over Russia in a Confederations Cup game in Moscow.

Ronaldo’s game-winner came after just eight minutes, when Raphael Guerreiro fired a cross from the left side that the captain headed in by the far post. The goal marked Ronaldo’s 74th international score — the most of all active players and the national record for Portugal.

The victory put Portugal — led by head coach Fernando Santos — in second place in Group A behind Mexico, which defeated New Zealand 2-1 on Wednesday. Both Mexico and Portugal have four points, though the former has scored one more goal (four) in the Confederations Cup — a tournament of regional champions that is a precursor to the World Cup — than Ronaldo’s team.

Ronaldo had another scoring opportunity in the 25th minute on a free kick from about 25 yards out, but Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev — who was playing his 100th international game — caught the ball before making another great save with his legs to deny Ronaldo from close seven minutes later when Andre Silva’s flicked-on header played the captain through on the right side.

Russia did not prove to be much of a threat in the first half, until the very end. In the 41st minute, forward Fyodor Smolov nearly scored for the hosts when he took a cross from the right in the box, but he shot far wide of the right post.

Then in the 51st minute, Akinfeev made a fantastic block of Silva’s point-blank header.

Fourteen minutes after that, Ronaldo made a long dash and took the return pass at the top of the box, but his powerful strike soared wide and high.

In injury time, Russia almost managed to capitalize on an error from Portugal goalie Rui Patricio, who swatted a cross out for a corner. On the following play, Georgi Dzhikiya — who was playing in his home stadium — delivered a header that flew inches over the crossbar.

Russia next faces Mexico in its final group-stage game on Saturday. The hosts will need to beat Juan Carlos Osorio’s team in order to reach the semifinals. Portugal will play already-eliminated New Zealand in a match at the same time on Saturday as Russia and Mexico, at 11 am EST.

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 06: Portugal player Cristiano Ronaldo in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 semi final between Wales and Portugal at Stade des Lumieres on July 6, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena