Attracting more criticism towards Ronaldo was the fact Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes - a top free-kick-taker in his own right - didn't get a look in. Portugal were eventually let off the hook by their goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, who saved three penalties in the shootout.

Martinez was asked about the prospect of shaking up his dead-ball pecking order ahead of Friday night's mouth-watering quarter-final clash with France. But he insisted that Ronaldo and Fernandes will continue to bear the responsibility between them.

Ronaldo has taken 60 free-kicks at major tournaments and scored only once. He is the top-scorer in European Championship history but none of those goals came from dead-ball situations.

Former United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward Ronaldo was distraught at his wastefulness against Slovenia and broke down in tears after his penalty miss.

Friday night's quarter-final in Hamburg will pit Ronaldo against another global megastar, Kylian Mbappe. And while Ronaldo has taken plenty of flak during the course of the tournament, Mbappe remains a long-standing admirer.

"He's always trying to give me advice and keep up to date with what's going on in my career. It's a pleasure. Playing against him is an honour, with everything he's done in football. No matter what happened before or what will happen in the future, he'll always be a legend of the game. "