During the intense quarter-final match between Portugal and France at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, BBC presenter Gary Lineker made a peculiar remark that stunned viewers. As Cristiano Ronaldo limped off the field to receive treatment moments before the start of extra time, Lineker quipped, “He’s just been given a second banana. I don’t know, that’s the second time he’s had a banana tonight.” Lineker’s comment sparked a flurry of speculation and confusion on social media. Some viewers interpreted it as an innocent reference to Ronaldo’s fondness for bananas, while others perceived it as an inappropriate innuendo. The remark also raised eyebrows because of the timing of the comment, which came as Ronaldo was visibly distressed and in need of medical attention. The BBC has since released a statement addressing the controversy. “Gary was not referring to Cristiano Ronaldo in any way, but was playfully highlighting how tired many of the players looked at that stage in the game,” the statement said. “Any suggestion otherwise is wide of the mark.” Lineker himself has not commented on the matter, but his statement through the BBC seems to suggest that his remark was merely intended as a light-hearted observation about the players’ exhaustion. However, the unfortunate timing and the choice of words have led to a misunderstanding among some viewers.