It was always going to be about him. Even if it had been 90 minutes of unrelenting tedium, with no shots and no goals, he would have been the focus after what, by his own inimitable standards, has been an extraordinary week.

But, this being Cristiano Ronaldo, there was always going to be a way he would wrestle the agenda away from off-field dramas and what better way to do it than by setting a record that might not be broken. Those words are not used lightly.

Bounced out of Old Trafford on Tuesday in a blaze of acrimony, Ronaldo became the first man in history to score at five World Cups. A run that started in Frankfurt in 2006 with a second half penalty against Iran was extended, with fitting symmetry, in Doha with a second half penalty against Ghana.

Otto Addo, Ghana’s incredulous coach, called it “a present” and perhaps it was. Your first instinct wasn’t to think “foul” when he tangled with Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu but referee Ismail Elfath was unmoved, despite a facing a flurry of protests. Ghana’s defenders then moved their frustrations on to Ronaldo, trying to badger him and put him off.

As if they could do. With one bounce of the ball, one puff of his cheeks and a pronounced run up, Ronaldo swept the ball firmly past Lawrence Zigi and he was on his way, hurtling into the corner of Stadium 974 and celebrating with his trademark ‘siuu!’ jump. It felt like the whole crowd joined in.

What a moment. Whatever drama there has been at Manchester United, whatever your feelings about the tantrums, the selfish behaviour and the constant negativity that has followed him this season, here you must separate it all and acknowledge sporting genius.

It matters not that Ronaldo, at 37, doesn’t move with the gazelle-like speed that was a trademark of his youth, in those early World Cups in Germany and South Africa; it doesn’t matter that he isn’t operating at his Ballon d’Or peak winning years at Real Madrid.

This was history. This was moving ahead of Pele – say that back to yourself again for the magnitude. Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi were the other members of The Four Club but Ronaldo is out on his own again, in unchartered territory. His team-mates recognised the symbolism, hugging him and not letting go.

There was a lovely moment in the tunnel as he waited to come out. Having given high fives to the 22 mascots, one little boy couldn’t believe his good fortune and mouthed “Oh my God!” when he saw Ronaldo standing in front of him in real life. He tried his luck for an extra hand slap – and got it, too.

So however much you might dislike him, don’t forget to a generation of innocent dreamers he remains a superhero, the man actually does on a pitch what only seems possible on a computer. That little boy had a night he will never forget – nor will many of us else here.

The occasion seemed to get to Ronaldo before kick-off and there were tears in his eyes as the Portuguese national anthem was played, aware there won’t be too many more opportunities of this kind – his time in the Champions League will be over, of course, if he moves to Saudi Arabia.

In a charmless first half, he was the one who looked capable of making something happen. He should have scored in the 10th minute when put through by Otavio but a heavy touch in front of the stand containing Ghana’s wonderful, noisy and colourful fans allowed Zigi to save at his feet.

And Inaki Williams almost made Diogo Costa pay when he crept up from behind the Portugal keeper, only to slip with the goal gaping after dispossessing him in the box

He smiled wryly, knowing he should have done better, but was grimacing three minutes later when he got his timings wrong, attempting to head in a cross from Raphael Guerreiro at the back post. Again, that chance should have been converted and he blazed at himself for failing.

American official Elfath was the subject of his ire in the 31st minute when, for some reason, it was deemed that he had fouled Alexander Djiku, as he latched on to a ball from Joao Felix. Replays showed it was a ridiculous decision to disallow what appeared a legitimate goal but it didn’t matter.

Portugal deserved the breakthrough when it eventually came in the 63rd minute and the spot-kick, which was captured on countless mobile phones for digital posterity, was awarded at a time when they were beginning to go through the gears, prompted by the superb Bruno Fernandes.

Ghana, at least, came back into it into the 73rd minute, levelling when Porto defender Danilo got his feet tangled to afford Andre Ayew a tap in after super work from Ajax youngster Mohammed Kudus down the left. On the halfway line, Ronaldo looked back in incredulity.

Was his night going to be ruined? As if. Ghana lost their shape and discipline and Joao Felix and substitute Rafael Leao plundered counterattack goals that secured their victory; Ronaldo might have had another himself but for a super save from Zigi.

Quite how he would have viewed things had Osman Bukari’s 89th minute strike for Ghana triggered an injury time onslaught can only be speculated – Ronaldo had been substituted, to a standing ovation, by then – but he was spared that situation materialising.

At the final whistle, he was back on the field taking the adulation and hearing his name being read out as the Player of the Match. Another debatable award but why argue? Some things, for better or worse, never change. With Cristiano Ronaldo, it was ever thus.

• Daily Mail report