In the end it was difficult to know which had Cristiano Ronaldo more frustrated. Not being able to score for the second consecutive match in the European Championship or having to repel attempts to take photos with his followers.
In what proved to be a wild and possibly dangerous encounter for the five-time World Cup winner, Ronaldo did not score, had one assist and four pitch invaders who tried to take selfies with the player accompanied Portugal’s chaotic 3-0 rout of Turkey on Saturday to confirm your ticket to the round of 16 of the Euro Cup.
Cristiano, one of the most recognized and loved players in the world, was the center of attention at Westfalenstadion. But not as he surely would have liked.
“That is the price you have to pay to be recognized in the world of football,” acknowledged Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammate.
In his record 27th Euro appearance, Cristiano assisted on a goal for the first time in this tournament when he set up Bruno Fernandes in the 55th minute with a selfless pass in front of the six-yard box.
“It was a pure moment of Portuguese football,” said Portuguese coach Roberto Martínez in recognition of his captain. “It should be shown in every academy in Portugal and the world because it shows that the team is the most important thing.”
But then things became a little strange, and unsafe for the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star.
Among the footballer’s fans, a child stood out who entered the field to take a selfie with the Portuguese star, managing to fulfill his mission.
Another fan who stole the show was this girl who couldn’t stand the excitement of having Cristiano around and meeting him in person, in addition to making eyes at the footballer during the presentation and the anthems:
Cristiano Ronaldo had no problems posing for a photograph with a young fan who evaded the security guards to enter the field in the 69th minute. The fan ran before he was grabbed and taken away.
But Cristiano was not as happy when two other assistants tried the same trick with their phones in the final minutes of the match that got out of control. He threw his arms in the air in disapproval on the first occasion and tried to avoid the second when defending a corner kick.
It is unclear whether the fans received what they were looking for before they were taken away by security guards.
Less than 28 minutes into the game and down 1-0 to Bernardo Silva seven minutes earlier, Turkey center back Samet Akaydin passed the ball back past the goalkeeper and into the back of the goal.
Portugal added after the victory in the first duel 2-1 against the Czech Republic and qualified with one game to play in Group F.
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