Portugal fans cheered with chants of “Viva Ronaldo” when his emotional reaction was displayed on the large screen at Frankfurt Arena.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s journey from despair to triumph saw him recover from a missed penalty in extra-time to help Portugal secure a dramatic shoot-out victory over Slovenia in the Euro 2024 last 16 on Monday. In a tense and scoreless match in Frankfurt, Ronaldo had the opportunity to break the deadlock late in the first extra-time period after Diogo Jota was fouled. However, the 39-year-old’s penalty attempt was brilliantly saved by Jan Oblak.
Having successfully converted his last 29 penalties, Ronaldo was visibly shocked to see his shot denied by Oblak and stood in disbelief, holding his head. When the whistle blew for half-time in extra-time, Ronaldo began to cry openly while standing among his teammates. Joao Palhinha comforted him, allowing Ronaldo to regain his composure and continue playing.
The Portugal supporters chanted “Viva Ronaldo” in support after his emotional moment was broadcasted on the big screen at Frankfurt Arena.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star composed himself for the penalty shoot-out, where he successfully converted Portugal’s first kick, setting the tone for victory. After initially aiming to Oblak’s left in extra-time, he chose the right corner in the shoot-out, narrowly scoring.
Ronaldo, visibly relieved, made a gesture of apology to the Portugal fans for his earlier miss as he returned to his teammates on the halfway line. Portugal’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, saved three penalties, cementing Ronaldo’s redemption and securing a quarter-final clash with France for Roberto Martinez’s side.
“Football gives you everything, from sadness to joy, in moments that are hard to explain,” Ronaldo remarked. “I hadn’t made a single mistake this year, but when I needed it the most, Oblak stopped it. Slovenia defended the entire game, making things very difficult.”
Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, praised Ronaldo for not letting his earlier setback affect his focus during the shoot-out. “Ronaldo missed a penalty, but he led us to victory by starting the shoot-out strong. He demonstrated resilience and leadership, showing us that in both life and football, we must persevere through tough moments.”
