Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty and Portugal blew the chance to finish top of Group B, with a dramatic climax seeing them draw 1-1 with minnows Iran.

The European champions were leading through Ricardo Quaresma’s stunning goal but were dramatically pegged back in stoppage time by a controversial spot-kick – and they would have gone out of the tournament had Mehdi Taremi not missed a golden chance at the end.

Ronaldo should have ended doubts about the outcome, and taken his goal tally for the tournament to five, when Portugal were awarded a 51st-minute penalty in Saransk.

But the Real Madrid superstar suffered a rare blip as he saw his effort beaten away by Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand.

Things almost got worse for Ronaldo when he was the subject of a lengthy red card review by the video assistant referee, but his apparent swing of the arm was adjudged only worthy of a yellow.

But his night ended still in huge disappointment after Karim Ansarifard equalised from the spot in stoppage time.

While it meant the score was 1-1, Iran still needed a win, and they never got one.