Summary
Spain were football's most envied nation around the end of the noughties and start of the 2010s.
But North Koreans still believe it was Portugal that won the 2010 South African World Cup.
Portugal, led by Ronaldo, never made it past Round of 16 in 2010 World Cup.
It might be difficult for younger readers to get their heads around the fact Spain didn’t used to be very good at major international tournaments. They were widely regarded as international football’s perennial underachievers - even more so than England - because they would consistently disappoint at every World Cup and European Championship.
Spain hadn’t won a major international trophy since the 1964 European Championships, but that all changed in 2008. Under Luis Aragones, La Roja stormed to victory in Austria and Switzerland, defeating Germany in the final thanks to a first-half goal from Fernando Torres. Spain then proved this was no fluke by winning both the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 under Vicente del Bosque.
To win three international tournaments in a row is a truly remarkable feat and an achievement that will be remembered forever, and some of the magic has returned recently when Luis de la Fuente led the Iberian nation to their record-breaking fourth European title in 2024. However, it turns out there’s one country that doesn’t recognise Spain as the winners of the World Cup in 2010 - a nation completely locked away from the rest of the globe.
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Why North Koreans Believe Portugal Won the 2010 World Cup
They were led to believe their nation had lost to the champions-elect
Cristiano Ronaldo
Per Spanish newspaper Marca, people in North Korea have apparently been led to believe that Portugal were the victors, thanks to the government's unwillingness to accept defeat to them during the group stages. Alvaro Leite, a flight attendant with TAP Portugal who visited North Korea in April 2017, revealed this fascinating piece of information during an interview with Sabado magazine.
He claims North Koreans were informed Portugal had won the tournament following their defeat at the hands of Carlos Queiroz's men in the group stages. "Throughout our visit to Pyongyang we had the company of a guide who spoke English," Leite told Marca's Primera Plana (watch the full story below). "He told us that Cristiano Ronaldo is a true idol for many people and that football has a very high importance and popularity across the country."
”It was then that the idea formed in the country that Portugal had won, they were 4-0 up against North Korea when, due to embarrassment, the government regime cut the broadcast. It was after the 60th minute, when Tiago scored, so no one in the country saw the other three goals of Portugal's 7-0 win."
Marca explained that the “4-0” win over North Korea was used to elevate Portugal’s status. North Korea’s defeat at the hands of Portugal was deemed acceptable because of their opponents’ incredible talent, and there's no blushes losing to the best in the world.
How Portugal Actually Did in 2010 World Cup
They never made it past the Round of 16 in South Africa
Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite propaganda claiming it was Cristiano Ronaldo and co. that went all the way to achieve world glory and thus complete the Real Madrid icon's trophy cabinet in record time - and thus probably prompting a whole nation to wholeheartedly believe the Al-Nassr forward is undisputably the greatest player on the planet - Quieroz's side never made it beyond the first knockout stage.
In fact, all seven of Portugal's goals in the tournament came against North Korea, with them being held to goalless draws in their other two group stage games against Brazil and Ivory Coast. Their journey would come to a whimpering finish in the Round of 16 when David Villa put eventual winners Spain 1-0 up before a late Ricardo Costa red card would seal their early elimination fate.
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Spain knocked their Iberian neighbours out of the tournament before beating Paraguay, Germany and then the Netherlands in the final. And it seems much of the North Korean public are still none the wiser, showing just how far removed that part of the world is from the rest of the everyday person.
Ronaldo and Portugal would have to wait another six years before clinching their first-ever major honour, courtesy of the 2016 European Championship. The 1-0 victory against France will forever be remembered for scenes of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner shouting from the sidelines, seemingly helping to inspire his teammates to glory after an injury ruled him out early into the showdown.