Fans loved what Cristiano Ronaldo did immediately after Portugal beat Czechia 2-1 at Euro 2024.
Ronaldo started Portugal’s opening Euro 2024 group stage game, becoming the second-oldest outfield player in the competition’s history in the process.
The 39-year-old is also the first player to feature at six different European Championships, having debuted for his nation as an 18-year-old at Euro 2024.
While it wasn’t the perfect night for Ronaldo on an individual level as he failed to get on the scoresheet, he did play the full 90 minutes and would have registered an assist for Diogo Jota’s disallowed goal had he not been millimetres offside in the build-up.
In the end, he watched on as substitute Francisco Conceicao scored his first international goal on 92 minutes to secure a dramatic victory.
And as soon as the full-time whistle blew at the Red Bull Arena, Ronaldo made sure to walk straight over to the 21-year-old Porto star before embracing him.
In response, one fan wrote: “A great winner. When I saw his reaction after Czechia scored, I knew they’re still going to win the game.”
A second noted: “He’s changed – seems to be nicer when he doesn’t score.”
A third wrote: “It means everything.”
The winger’s goal carries special significance to Ronaldo, as the Al Nassr star played against his father, the current Porto boss Sergio Conceicao, when he was at Sporting Lisbon.
Writing ahead of the tournament in a lengthy post on Twitter, Ronaldo noted his landmark of becoming the most experienced player in Euros history and sent a rallying cry to Portuguese fans.
He wrote: “Today begins another chapter in our history. I fondly remember my first day with the national team, a journey full of challenges and victories.
“Now, I have the honor of being alongside a team of champions, full of talent and determination.
“With everyone’s strength and support, we turn dreams into reality. Let’s, together, fight for another triumph. United, we are unstoppable.”
