Unhappy morning stroll for Ronaldo
Print Edition
MEMO to reporters at the European Championship: Don’t disturb Cristiano Ronaldo on his morning stroll.
Already enduring a frustrating tournament on the field, the Portugal star was clearly unhappy to be approached by a reporter for the TV station of a Portuguese tabloid and asked how he was feeling ahead of yesterday’s Group F match against Hungary at Euro 2016.
“Are you ready for the game?” the 31-year-old Ronaldo was asked as he walked with teammates beside a lake in a park in Lyon, with some Portuguese security personnel shielding them from fans.
Ronaldo responded to the seemingly harmless question by snatching the microphone off the reporter and throwing it into the lake. The incident happened in front of a crowd of journalists and watching fans, and the reporter was ushered away by security.
The three-time world player of the year has had his issues with the tabloid in question, Correio da Manha, threatening to sue it twice over reporting about his private life.
Ronaldo, the most high-profile player at Euro 2016, is not having the best of times in France.
He has failed to score in 22 attempts on goal across Portugal’s first two matches, which ended in draws against Iceland and Austria. One of his chances was a penalty, which he struck against the post against Austria.
Previously, Ronaldo attracted negative headlines for belittling Iceland’s defensive tactics after the smallest nation ever to play in a European Championship held Portugal to a 1-1 draw.
It perhaps shows Ronaldo is feeling the pressure as Portugal struggles to get out of Group F, heading into the game against Hungary in Lyon.
Jose Delgado, a correspondent for Portuguese daily A Bola, said that Ronaldo was frustrated by his poor performances.
“The hours before the game are always difficult for the players and I don’t think it’s a good idea they mix with journalists because things like this may happen,” he said.
Having become Portugal’s record caps holder last Saturday against Austria, when he made his 128th appearance, Ronaldo is set to make more history.
If he scores, he will become the first player to do so at four consecutive Euro tournaments.
He will also become the player to have played the most matches at a European Championship finals with 17 appearances.
Meanwhile over in the United States, Lionel Messi — Ronaldo’s big soccer rival — cannot stop scoring and setting up goals in Argentina’s march to the Copa America final. Messi scored one goal, a brilliant free kick, to break his country’s career scoring record and set up two others in the 4-0 win over the hosts in their semifinal on Tuesday.
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