23/06/2024
23/06/2024
DORTMUND, Germany, June 23, (AP): By the end, it was hard to know what Cristiano Ronaldo was more unhappy 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 match for the five-time world Player of the Year, Ronaldo had no goals, one assist, and no less than four selfie-pursuing field invaders for the company in Portugal’s chaotic 3-0 win over Turkey that secured a spot in Euro 2024’s round of 16.
Ronaldo, one of the world’s most popular and well-known sports stars, was the center 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.
Ronaldo did get his first goal involvement of the tournament when he set up the third by Bruno Fernandes with an unselfish pass. He could easily have attempted a shot after being played clean through.
"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 world football.”
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 before whipping out his cell phone. That fan sprinted off before beings