As Portugal prepares to face Slovakia in a crucial UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier on October 13, with a chance to secure their place in next summer’s tournament, all eyes are on Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal aims to continue their impressive campaign.
Portugal’s perfect record in the qualifying rounds puts them at the top of Group J, having accumulated 18 points so far.
But it was Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez who caused a stir when asked about Ronaldo’s starting position in a pre-match interview, “Will Ronaldo play as a starter tomorrow?” Martinez said cryptically, “Ronaldo? I won’t answer you.”
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Will Ronaldo play as a start tomorrow?
Roberto Martinez: « Ronaldo? I won’t give you an answer.» pic.twitter.com/9RzoD6fVkq
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) October 12, 2023
This enigmatic response immediately resonated on social media, eliciting a variety of reactions from fans. One fan, perhaps a devoted fan of Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi, cheekily remarked, “Smart coach.” On the other hand, a different fan expressed a more critical view, remarking, “Knew it, this bald fraud will be a snake.”
Knew it this bald fraud will be snake
— HOJLUNDHive🐐 (@ANTONY567899) October 12, 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent performances for Portugal have been scrutinized, as he played the entire 90 minutes in the previous game but didn’t score a goal directly, and it was his former Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes who scored the only goal in the game in the victory.
Now, having returned from his suspension, Ronaldo is making his presence felt as captain of the Selecao. With his wealth of attacking talent, manager Roberto Martinez faces the intriguing challenge of choosing the best partner for Ronaldo up front.
Players such as Raphael Liao, Goncalo Ramos, and Bernardo Silva are all options, ensuring the game against Slovakia will be worth watching as Portugal aim to secure their place at Euro 2024.
Diogo Dalot teases Cristiano Ronaldo’s smartphone obsession
Manchester United player and Portugal international Diogo Dalot has playfully mocked his companion and teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. In a lighthearted moment shared on social media, Dalot captured Ronaldo seemingly engrossed in his smartphone, mocking the soccer legend’s addiction to smartphone.
The two players always known for their friendship and time together, recently met for Portugal’s European Championship qualifier against Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, Dalot’s hilarious comment appears to be a subtle response to Ronaldo’s earlier criticisms of the younger generation of Manchester United players.
Dalot is savage 😂 pic.twitter.com/2I6OOBmc7e
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) October 12, 2023
A legend both on and off the pitch, Ronaldo faced criticism when he voiced his opinion on the dedication and work ethic of young Old Trafford players. With a nod to Ronaldo’s remarks, Dalot took to social media to good-naturedly suggest that the veteran superstar is “always on his phone.”
Accompanying his comment, Dalot used a series of emojis to make it clear that he was engaging in some friendly banter before tagging Ronaldo in the post.