A grinning Ronaldo threw his arms in the air, suggesting he got the final touch, and was embracing Fernandes, who plays in midfield, as multiple close-up replays were being shown on the big screens in Lusail Stadium.
Alas for Ronaldo, the goal wound up being awarded to Fernandes, who added a second from the penalty spot in stoppage time after a handball by Jose Maria Gimenez as he slid in to challenge the Manchester United playmaker.
'I don't really think it matters who scored,' Fernandes said about the first goal. 'The feeling at the time was that he (Ronaldo) touched the ball — I was crossing it to him — but what's important was we moved into the next round and beat a very big opponent.'
Fernandes was denied a hat trick with virtually the last kick of the game, his shot from outside the area hitting the post and bouncing wide.
Portugal, which opened with a 3-2 win over Ghana, became the third team to reach the last 16 after France and Brazil. The team also avenged its loss to Uruguay in the last 16 at the 2018 tournament on Monday.
Uruguay has one point from two matches and needs to beat Ghana on Friday to stand a chance of advancing. The 2010 semifinalists have yet to score a goal at this tournament, with coach Diego Alonso even putting 35-year-old striker Luis Suarez on the bench in search of the right combination up front.
He still was the center of attention, though, illuminating a lackluster first half with tricks and flicks that brought gasps from the crowd inside the World Cup’s largest venue, where Ronaldo will hope to return for the final on December 18.
For now, though, the Portugal captain is assured of at least two more matches in what is likely his final World Cup and will play in the knockout stage for the fourth time in his career.
A draw against South Korea in its final Group H match will secure first place for Portugal, and likely avoid a last-16 meeting with Brazil.
As for Uruguay, a must-win game awaits against Ghana — a repeat of the 2010 quarterfinal match won by the South American team in a penalty shootout after Suarez was sent off for a handball on the line in stoppage time of extra time.
Cristiano Ronaldo messaged Piers Morgan in the Portugal dressing room after their 2-0 win over Uruguay to claim he got a touch to Bruno Fernandes ' cross to open the scoring.
That's according to former USA defender Alexi Lalas, who explained that Morgan told him Ronaldo texted him after the game to say he felt he should've been awarded the goal. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner celebrated like he had scored, with Ronaldo running away holding his finger in the air and looking delighted in the process.
Fernandes' delivery appeared to deceive the Uruguay defence and fly into the corner with Ronaldo claiming the final touch. The 37-year-old attempted to flick the cross home, but replays showed he didn't get anything onto the ball into the box with Fernandes given the goal.
"The breaking news is the Cristiano Ronaldo did not score despite his claims that it did touch him," the ex-USMNT captain said on Fox Soccer. "I was just with Piers Morgan and he said that Cristiano texted him from the locker room saying that he believes that it touched his head. So, uhm, who knows."
Morgan also tweeted: "Ronaldo confirmed to me that his head touched the ball. Even Bruno agrees."
It initially appeared as though Ronaldo had gotten a small flick on the ball before it flew into the Uruguayan goal.
But replays suggested the former Manchester United forward may have missed it, and the goal was credited to Fernandes.
But Ronaldo insists the strike should be his and even texted his pal Morgan straight after the game.
The journalist confirmed he had been contacted by the star after the game in a light-hearted Twitter exchange with Specsavers.
Meanwhile, on Fox Sports, former United States international Alexi Lalas revealed: “Breaking news is that Cristiano Ronaldo did not score, despite his claims that it did touch him.
“I was just with Piers Morgan. He said that Cristiano texted him from the locker room saying he believes that it touched his head. Who knows…”
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