The Cristiano Ronaldo goal machine has broken down - can he recover?

Record breaking has become so prevalent in the life and times of Cristiano Ronaldo that reaching milestones is almost second nature, but the clash with Austria in the Parc des Princes represented an especially proud moment - initially at least.

The Portugal captain surpassed Luis Figo’s 127 appearances in Selecao red to become his country’s all-time most capped player, and the pride oozed out of his impeccable frame as he belted out the national anthem, finishing a powerful rendition with a fist pump, beaming smile emblazoned across his face.

Yet, 90 minutes later, the joy had been sapped out of the skipper, as he endured another frustrating night in front of goal. Ronaldo has had a remarkable 20 shots at this tournament and not scored. It shouldn’t be fitness concerns that are bothering Portugal fans: the goal machine has broken down.

Coming into the tournament it seemed the 31-year-old wasn't fully fit following a gruelling domestic season. Nonetheless, he was thrown straight into the Portugal starting line-up against Iceland, such is the dearth of Portuguese striking options. Pauleta should probably still get a game.

Twenty shots, one penalty kick and 180 minutes later, he is still without a goal. Social media has exploded with Schadenfreude, Ronaldo’s suffering being seen as repentance for his reaction to Iceland’s display in Saint-Etienne.

There was a similar feeling in the stadium too. Austria fans, who had been in fine voice all evening despite their tournament not going to plan so far, rejoiced in Ronaldo’s woes, chanting “Messi, Messi, Messi” after every missed opportunity.

“Jump, jump, unless you’ll be Portuguese” also reverberated from the Austria end as they seemed delighted to be on the back foot all match as Portugal toiled.

Starting out wide left, Ronaldo soon found himself drifting inside, pushing Nani back out to the wing. The gameplan seemed to be Nani deployed centrally, but Ronaldo pulled rank – something Nani is used to by now.

The match was a replica of Selecao’s Group F opener. After producing 27 attempts on goal in Saint-Etienne, the highest of any team in the opening round of Euro 2016 matches, Ronaldo and co were at it again in the Parisian drizzle. After a superb Marcel Sabitzer cross was headed wide by Martin Harnick for the Austrians early on, it was all Portugal.

The Portuguese presence in the press box were very relaxed, citing that age old adage “it can’t happen again” when referring to their team’s luck in front of goal. It did, in more spectacular fashion.

Nani was denied by the superb Austrian goalkeeper Robert Almer - who coach Marcel Koller brought in from the abyss four years ago – before Ronaldo side-footed wide from point blank range. It was becoming a theme. Nani headed onto the post when unmarked, before a Ronaldo snap-volley was kept out by Almer.

It wasn’t just down to some wayward finishing, though. Ten minutes after the break Almer had to be at his brilliant best to tip a rasping Ronaldo strike around the post. The shots were totting up, reaching a crescendo as Ronaldo stepped up to take a 78th minute spot kick after being brought down by Martin Hinteregger.

The Austrian centre-back conceded it was the right decision, but insisted Ronaldo was not below par in the French capital. "I went to block him but he is so strong, he is like a machine," Hinteregger told Eurosport post match. "We fought to be first for the ball but he won this fight. He was unbelievable. Now I know that he is the best player in the world. I’m so happy that he didn’t score against us."

Ronaldo’s recent record from the spot is far from impressive, making it slightly less surprising that his effort came out off the post – that’s four of his last five missed for club and country. Even for a man of such supreme confidence and bravado, surely even the one-man super brand must be affected by such profligacy?

“He [Ronaldo] is mentally the strongest person in the world,” Southampton defender Jose Fonte told Eurosport after the game. “This is not the first time that this has happened to him. Nobody can imagine the pressure he has on his shoulders. He deals with it every day, I wouldn’t worry about him.”

Nonetheless, contrary to popular opinion, Ronaldo is only human, and the longer this run goes on, the harder it will be to turn his form around.

This was not a formidable defence to breach. Austria kept their first clean sheet at a major tournament in 14 matches - since a match against in the 1982 World Cup.

Winning a major tournament with his country is all Ronaldo has left to achieve. He has nothing to prove, he is one of the best there has ever been, but for a man of the highest of standards, Ronaldo will not rest until he has a complete collection.

Every would-be emperor must cross the Rubicon, and for Ronaldo to retire a happy man, he must delve deeper than he has ever had to in order to inspire a nation. Fail to find the net against Hungary and lead his men to victory, and the weight of Portuguese anguish will lie heavy on his shoulders.