Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo’s emotional outburst after missing sitter

Things just aren’t going Cristiano Ronaldo’s way at Manchester United this season. 

If anything summed up the goalscoring icon’s 2022-23 campaign so far, it was this chance in the closing stages of United’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Omonia last night.

Ronaldo is arguably the most prolific goalscorer in the history of football, and there was a time you’d have expected him to score hatfuls against such relative minnows.

The 37-year-old Portugal international did assist one of Marcus Rashford’s two goals in the 3-2 win, but he failed to find the back of the net himself. He’s yet to score from open play in 11 appearances for club and country so far this season, with his only goal in 2022-23 coming via the penalty spot against Sheriff Tiraspol.

Despite United’s struggles last season, Ronaldo had no difficulty in doing what he’s always done best and found the back of the net with regularity. The Red Devils went trophyless and registered their lowest points tally of the Premier League era, but Ronaldo scored 18 goals in the league and 24 in all competitions, finishing their top scorer by a distance.

However, after failing to force through a move away in the summer, the veteran has fallen down the pecking order under new boss Erik ten Hag. He hasn’t started a Premier League game since United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford in early August and was an unused substitute in Sunday’s shocking 6-3 loss at Manchester City.

Ronaldo has started each of United’s Europa League matches so far this season. Given his record as the Champions League’s all-time top goalscorer, he might’ve expected to score more than one penalty in three appearances against Real Sociedad, Sheriff Tiraspol and FC Omonia.

Things just aren’t going his way, though. He was gifted a golden opportunity by his Portuguese compatriot Diogo Dalot in the closing stages of last night’s victory. It was the kind of close-range instinctive finish he could’ve scored in his sleep during his peak, but his effort cannoned back off the woodwork.

It’s clear to see that Ronaldo’s current struggles are getting to him. He looked exasperatedly toward the sky with an expression that screamed “why me?” after missing the chance.

But his manager wasn’t too concerned.

“I think they were on target as well,” Ten Hag said in his post-match interview when reminded of Ronaldo’s missed chances. “The first two, good saves from the goalie, so he had a couple of chances, he created a couple of chances.

“He was involved with a good run with the first goal for Marcus Rashford, so he had an impact in this game.

“I think we created a lot of chances tonight, we count them only in the first-half already 14, so there was a lot of threat to the opponent’s goal.”