A young girl, acting as a mascot for Portugal for their EURO 2024 game against Turkey, could not stop blushing at Cristiano Ronaldo as the players lined up for national anthems ahead of their Group F clash.
WATCH:
View this post on Instagram
By the end of the match, it was hard to know what Cristiano Ronaldo was frustrated more about – failing to score for the second straight game at the European Championship or having to fend off repeated attempts for selfies by his adoring fans.
In what proved to be a wild and potentially dangerous match for the five-time world player of the year, Ronaldo had no goals, one assist and no less than four selfie-seeking field invaders for company in Portugal’s chaotic 3-0 win over Turkey that secured his team a spot in Euro 2024’s round of 16.
Ronaldo, one of the world’s most popular and well-known sport stars, was the centre of attention as always at Westfalenstadion.
Just not how he might have expected.
“That’s the price you pay for being so recognized in the world of football,” said Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo’s Portugal teammate.
Making a record 27th appearance at the Euros, Ronaldo did get his first goal involvement of this tournament when he set up the third by Bruno Fernandes in the 55th minute with an unselfish pass across the face of the six-yard box after being played clean through.
Perhaps he just wanted another record. This was his eighth assist at a European Championship, more than anyone else.
“It was a pure moment of Portuguese football,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said in praise of Ronaldo, his captain. “It should be shown in every academy in Portugal and world football, because it showed that the team is the most important thing.”
Then things got a bit silly — and potentially unsafe — for the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus striker.
Ronaldo was fine posing for a photograph with a young boy who evaded stewards to get on the field in the 69th minute and whipped out his cell phone. That fan sprinted off before finally being grabbed and escorted away by security.
ALSO WATCH | Young Cristiano Ronaldo Fan Dribbles Past Security at EURO 2024 After Invading Pitch to Snap Picture
However, Ronaldo certainly wasn’t amused when two other fans with phones at the ready tried the same trick in the final few minutes of a game that flew out of control. He threw his arms up in disgust the first time and appeared to actively try to avoid the next one as he defended a corner.
It wasn’t clear if those fans got their wish before being taken away.
After the final whistle, there were more security breaches as a fan wearing a red Portugal jersey attempted to get close to Ronaldo while holding a phone. He was soon tackled to the ground. Then two more supporters were prevented from confronting Ronaldo as Portugal’s players walked off the field, having just come from saluting their law-abiding fans in the stands.
“It’s a concern,” Martinez said, “because today we were lucky that the intentions of the fans were good.
“If those intentions are wrong, the players are exposed. I don’t think that should happen on a football pitch.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
Stay updated with the latest from Euro 2024. Explore Euro 2024 Match Today. Check Updated list of Highest Goal-Scorer in Euro 2024. CheckEuro 2024 Points Table and Euro 2024 Match Results and Euro 2024 Match Schedule .
Comments
0 comment