FIFA World Cup: The internet can't get enough of Cristiano Ronaldo's unique look

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't inspire Portugal to a win as it went down 2-1 to Uruguay in their World Cup Round of 16 clash on Sunday morning (AEST), but that doesn't mean he wasn't a hot topic of discussion.

The Real Madrid star was kept quiet by the South Americans, who put enormous pressure on him every time he was in possession. He didn't manage to touch the ball a single time in Uruguay's box in the first half, such was its defensive tenacity.

His best scoring opportunity came in the opening stanza when Portugal was awarded a free kick outside the area — and the internet was quick to notice something very peculiar shortly after the referee blew his whistle.

Known for being deadly from set pieces, the 33-year-old drilled his effort into the wall this time — unable to repeat his free kick heroics against Spain in the first game of the tournament — but it was his look rather than his right-foot thunderbolt that had fans talking.

There is short shorts and then there is — whatever this thing is that Ronaldo does for free kicks. #RingerFC #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/uFAyVw0a6g

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 30, 2018

How do you say "Sun's Out, Gun's Out" in Portuguese? pic.twitter.com/3TqIb73GIQ

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 30, 2018

Ronaldo's thigh muscles have their own thigh muscles. pic.twitter.com/L9NNfQDDWq

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) June 30, 2018

Ronaldo rolled his shorts up his legs to the point where they resembled undies — or at least made him look more AFL player than football star.

Never one to be shy about taking his shirt off and showing the world his bulging six-pack after finding the back of the net, it turns out the goalscoring machine's quads are just as ripped as other parts of his body — and the Twittersphere wasn't going to let his unique look slide.

Ronaldo has pulled off the look when taking free kicks throughout the World Cup in Russia, but whatever benefits he believes showing off his legs give him from set pieces weren't evident in a thrilling match that saw Uruguay advance to the quarter-finals.

On the same day Lionel Messi was sent home in Argentina's 4-3 loss to France, the other "GOAT" at the tournament was also eliminated. It was two weeks ago that Ronaldo scored a hat trick in the same stadium against Spain, stroking his chin after the first goal to imply he was the "greatest of all time".

At this rate Ronaldo might just take the shorts off completely for his next free kick pic.twitter.com/ZAGVgWLUim

— Jay Rigdon (@jayrigdon5) June 30, 2018

Why does Ronaldo need to transform his shorts into underwear everytime he takes a free kick?

— Maha Al-Ansari (@MahaAlAnsari) June 30, 2018

Cristiano Ronaldo on the free-kick there...#POR #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/GIYckeSTY6

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 30, 2018

There was no goal from Ronaldo this time. Everywhere he went, the Portugal great was hounded by two or three Uruguayan defenders.

It was Edinson Cavani who instead took the spotlight. He combined with Luis Suarez to compete a series of precision passes to give Uruguay the early advantage with a header in the seventh minute. And after Portugal equalised on Pepe's header in the 55th minute, it was Cavani again finishing a perfect Uruguay counter in the 62nd with a shot from just inside the penalty area that caught Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio slightly out of position and curled inside the far post.

"The truth is, it was really exciting," Cavani said. "There aren't words to describe this." Cavani now has three goals at the World Cup, but limped off in the 70th minute with an apparent injury and had to be replaced. He was helped to the sideline with his arm around Ronaldo's back.

Uruguay, a two-time champion that reached the semi-finals at the 2010 World Cup, will next face France on Friday in Nizhny Novgorod.

— with AP