Today, my happiest wish against Portugal in football came to pass.
God, I thank you for answering my prayers. May you continue to do so. May the spirit of disunity fall on them for being ungrateful to Ronaldo.
#portugalvsdenmark#portugal#brunofernandes#CR7 #ChristianoRonaldo
🚨🎙️ Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg on facing Portugal without Cristiano Ronaldo:
🗣️ “Listen, I have enormous respect for Cristiano Ronaldo. We have always respected him in Denmark. When you prepare to face Portugal with Ronaldo in the team, you know you’re dealing with one of the greatest footballers in history. Even when you think you’ve controlled the game, he can produce something extraordinary.
“But now, things are different. Ronaldo is no longer there, and honestly, I don’t think Portugal carry the same fear factor they once had.
“Look at their squad. They have Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and several other talented players, but I think people have started exaggerating how good this Portugal team actually is. Having famous players doesn’t automatically make you a dangerous team.
“Bruno is a good footballer, but sometimes I feel people talk about him as if he belongs in the same conversation as the greatest players in football history. Without Ronaldo, I want to see who takes responsibility when Portugal need someone to decide a difficult game.
“With Ronaldo, you always had that feeling that Portugal could score at any moment. You could defend for 89 minutes and still lose because he only needed one opportunity. That is the kind of player he was.
“Now, we don’t have that same fear. We respect Portugal, but we certainly aren’t intimidated by their names anymore.
“Some people might find this disrespectful, but football is about what happens on the pitch, not what happened five years ago. Portugal need to prove they can still frighten the biggest teams without Ronaldo.
“We are going into this game believing we can hurt them. We know what we are capable of, and we aren’t travelling here to admire Portugal’s famous players.
“Ronaldo was the reason many teams feared Portugal. Now that he isn’t there, I think people will finally discover whether this Portugal team is genuinely great or whether they were simply fortunate to have the greatest player of all time carrying that responsibility.”
🚨Cristiano Ronaldo on Portugal suffering the biggest defeat in their history after a 4-1 loss to Denmark:
🗣️ “After training, I went home and watched the game with my family.
We sat down and I watched Portugal from the first minute until the final whistle.
Honestly, I wasn’t impressed.
I wasn’t angry because they lost. I’ve lost plenty of games with Portugal.
But what I watched against Denmark was different.
I saw players wearing the Portugal shirt, but not enough fighting for it.
That bothered me.
People don’t always understand what that shirt represents. It carries generations of Portuguese football.
When I put that shirt on, I knew I was carrying something bigger than myself.
Against Denmark, I didn’t see it.
Denmark were winning duels, second balls, controlling possession and attacking with confidence.
Portugal weren’t making them uncomfortable.
When the first goal went in, I was waiting for somebody to stand up and say, ‘Come on, we are Portugal.’
I didn’t see enough of that.
Then another goal comes. Then another. Suddenly it’s 4-1.
And I’m thinking, ‘What happened to the mentality?’
Jorge told me I couldn’t offer the team more.
Some players also said it was time for me to step aside.
They said Portugal needed a younger generation.
They said others needed responsibility.
Fine, okay. I accepted it.
I stepped away.
I didn’t fight them or create problems.
I gave them exactly what they asked for.
I gave them the shirt.
And this is what happened.
Portugal suffered the biggest defeat in its history.
And we suffered it against Denmark.
That is difficult for me to accept.
If you tell me I am the problem, then when I leave, I expect the problem to disappear.
Instead, you remove me and the team looks like it doesn’t know how to fight.
So what was I supposed to be?
The problem?
Or the player carrying more responsibility than people wanted to admit?
You cannot say Portugal has moved beyond Cristiano Ronaldo, then lose 4-1 without anyone taking responsibility.
If you want the new generation, show me the new generation.
Don’t tell me about potential.
Don’t tell me about talent.
Don’t tell me about the future.
Show me now.
Fight now.
Compete now.
Because the Portugal shirt doesn’t wait for you to become ready.
When you put it on, you are ready.
I watched Denmark play with hunger.
They wanted every ball, attacked us and made Portugal uncomfortable.
And our players looked like they were waiting for someone to wake them up.
That is unacceptable.
I don’t expect every player to be Cristiano Ronaldo.
But I expect every player wearing Portugal to have courage when things become difficult.
When we were losing, I asked for the ball.
When I missed, I asked for another chance.
That is what representing Portugal meant to me.
Maybe people will say I’m angry because I’ve retired.
No. I’m angry because I care.
I gave more than twenty years to that shirt.
I sacrificed, suffered and celebrated for it.
And I never once believed I was doing Portugal a favour by playing.
So when Jorge says I couldn’t offer the team more, I accepted his decision.
When players said I should step aside, I stepped aside.
But now they have to accept their responsibility too.
You cannot push the old generation out and then complain when nobody takes responsibility for what comes next.
You asked for this team.
You wanted this team.
Now own it.
The biggest defeat in Portugal’s history isn’t just a result. It’s a warning.
The shirt is still there.
The history and expectations are still there.
I’m not.
So nobody can hide behind Cristiano Ronaldo anymore.
If Portugal wants to move forward without me, do it.
But don’t tell me you are ready for the future while playing like a team that has forgotten its past.
I stepped aside because they said I couldn’t offer more.
Now Portugal has suffered its biggest defeat in history.
Against Denmark.
I don’t need to say more.
The football answered the question.”
@FabrizioRomano Nerve should they mention tribute night for my original GOAT. I said yesterday that Ronaldo karma would start falling on them today.
More to follow!
Portugal iba perdiendo contra Armenia y se jugaba su clasificación a la Eurocopa 2016.
Cristiano Ronaldo se puso al equipo al hombro, marcó un hat-trick y Portugal se clasificó a la Eurocopa.
¿El resto? Simplemente historia.
@Chiefofbridge That is a mockery, not a tribute! It is a shame on them. There is nothing they can do to heal or hide their gross, barbaric act against Ronaldo and now put on hypocritical appreciation as a tribute!
They do not have a bit of shame.
If this is true, all those players who hated him, beginning with Bruno, the 3/4 PSG players, and the one at AC Milan, and Galatasaray, plus anyone I forget to mention, the stupid coach JJ, who allowed himself to be used because he wants fame, must not be included.
They should include his son to seal his international career. That would be a perfect handover from father to son.
🚨 Luis Figo Blasts Arrogant Kids What Have They Won? Nothing Defends Ronaldo’s Right to a Legend’s Farewell:
🗣️"When Cristiano Ronaldo received his first call-up to the Portugal national team, he was just a kid with big dreams. He walked into a dressing room full of established stars and showed nothing but respect. He listened, he learned, and he earned his place. He never acted like he was bigger than the team or the players who had come before him.
Look at the situation today. We have young players who behave as if they have already achieved everything. Arrogant kids who talk more than they deliver. And what have they actually won? Nothing. No major trophies with the national team, no history of carrying the country on their shoulders when it mattered most.
Young Cristiano didn’t need anyone to score goals for him. He didn’t hide behind others or wait for the team to create everything. He would take games by the scruff of the neck and win them almost by himself. For years, he carried Portugal through difficult moments, through criticism, through pressure that would break most players. He made the national team relevant on the world stage and turned Portugal into a side that could compete with the very best.
That is not something you forget. That is not something you disrespect. Cristiano has given everything for the shirt. He deserves the respect of every player in that squad, and when the time comes, he deserves a farewell worthy of a true legend. Not silence. Not disrespect. A proper send-off that matches what he has done for Portugal."
So it is now clear that their plan against Ronaldo was a complete coup meant to dent his reputation in football. All those who partake in that decision will not enjoy their remaining days. Except if Ronaldo does not suffer to put Portugal where it is today; if he does, karma will befall them starting tomorrow.
I urge all Ronaldo fans and sympathisers to completely stop buying tickets or watching Portugal games.
Let those around keep booing them.
@bt3msh That is a foolish tribute. They are doing a damage-control tribute to cover their shame. Doing that will not help them retain us, the fans who retired along with him.
Here I come, England, home sweet home.
🚨Breaking: Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, shares a heartwarming yet heartbreaking message following her son’s decision to retire from international football with Portugal. 💔🇵🇹
“My son Ronaldo has said goodbye to the Portugal national team. From the moment you were in my womb, I knew you were destined to become someone great. Even the sounds and the blessings I experienced during my pregnancy made me believe I was carrying a special child. And here you are today!
You have achieved everything, setting records and reaching heights that no other Portuguese footballer has ever reached. I am incredibly proud of you, my son.
You gave your best and dedicated your life to the national team. Today marks the end of an extraordinary journey, and I am happy and proud of everything you have accomplished. You gave everything you had, and the world will never forget what you have done.
However, I am a little disappointed with how everything ended. I believe some players turned against you, and coach Jorge Jesus chose to believe them. Perhaps it is better for you to walk away and leave everything behind.
You have nothing left to prove, my son. You have made your family, your country and millions of people around the world proud. ❤️🐐”
#Portugal #Cristiano #Trump