BERLIN, June 17 — Ahead of Portugal’s Group F opener against the Czech Republic in Leipzig this Tuesday evening, overboiling excitement seems to be a daily routine for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 2016 European champions’ training sessions come near enthusiastic mass events due to the unprecedented popularity of the 39-year-old striker.
The Selecao Portuguesa might contain several stars such as Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Joao Felix (Barcelona), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), and Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), but all of them seem to stand in the shadow of the man under contract at the Saudi-Arabian side of Al-Nassr FC.
The Euro record scorer, 14 goals in 25 games, is triggering a wave of euphoria around Portugal’s base camp in Harsewinkel, located northeast of Dortmund.
400 Motorbikes accompanied the team bus when arriving a few days ago while 6000 fans waited in front of the hotel to greet their hero.
The team management noted over 15,000 applicants for the 4,000 tickets to their open training session.
“Portugal in the heart. Euphoria in Germany,” the tabloid Correio da Manha noted while the paper “Record” spoke about “Madness around the national team.”
Security personnel is busy keeping obtrusive away from the pitch as over 16 admirers tried to come near their courted player and harvest a selfie while training was running.
At an advanced age, the Portugal silverback doesn’t seem to have lost attraction.
130 goals in 207 international in his home country’s shirt seem to tell the story of one of football’s rockstars.
While international media is speculating about a career end, the striker seems unstoppable as he scored ten of Portugal’s 36 goals harvested in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification campaign.
For many, it seems unbelievable that the five-time World Footballer of the Year has kept an international top level for that long.
Many expected a performance decrease after he joined Al-Nassr in the Saudi-Arabian league.
The former United, Real, and Juve attacker is taking bold predictions calmly and continuing with his actions.
While Portugal doesn’t seem similarly dependent on Ronaldo, his value seems undisputed.
“He is important for us, on and off the pitch,” coach Roberto Martinez said while the forward was praising his move to Saudi Arabia.
“I have been there for a year now and know what I am talking about. At present the league’s level is better than that of French Ligue 1,” he said, adding that he is happy about his move to the Middle East.
Coach Martinez kept on backing his star by saying: “A player scoring that many goals is showing consistency, physical abilities, robust fitness – we cherish and need.”
To survive their group with Turkey and Georgia as the favourites seems a must and nothing Ronaldo is doubting.
“We are a team and full of ambitions and determination,” the striker said.
CR7 said he still has a lot to give for his team’s benefit. The star isn’t talking about retirement but indicates that reaching 250 international might be a worthwhile goal for him.
“I will never give up the Selecao,” he said with an eye twinkling. (Xinhua)
Ronaldo triggering a wave of euphoria around Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad
