Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't going to let a quick crying jag keep him from leading Portugal to victory in the knockout round of the 2024 Euros.
Playing in his record sixth European Championship, the 39-year-old soccer superstar dissolved into tears after missing a kick in extra time versus Slovenia. His teammates consoled the fiery veteran as he walked down the pitch, overcome with emotion but suspecting his night wasn't over yet.
Sure enough, when the penalty kick shootout began, Ronaldo was called upon again to come through for the national team.
On this occasion, the team captain showed why he's a four-time Golden Boot and five-time Ballon d'Or winner, not to mention one of the highest-paid athletes on the planet.
Ronaldo's kick sailed into the back of the goal, the first of his team's three penalty shots to go in, sending Portugal into the quarterfinals.
But even the seasoned TV commentators were a bit startled to see Ronaldo so emotional, the athlete more inclined to get a little hot under the collar or rip his shirt off in victory than shed tears mid-game.
And, no one could predict how the missed shot would affect his mindset when he stepped up again.
As it so happened, he was smiling by the end of the night, his tears long-since dried, though his flash of vulnerability may prove to be one of the lingering images of the tournament.
"At first I was sad, and now I'm overjoyed," he told a reporter after the match (per Fox Sports' translation). "This is football. This is what football gives you. You cannot explain it, this goes from eight to 80. We had the chance to go ahead, I failed...I don't know if I hit it right or not, but now when I needed it most I failed, after...having failed before on penalty kicks. So now I feel sad, but happy as well."
But, he continued, "it's important to enjoy progressing. We're doing a great job, we're here till the bitter end...We deserve this. Slovenia defended throughout the game and I think we're all to be congratulated, especially our goalkeeper." (Indeed, Diogo Costa will be getting his congratulations for days.)
Portugal will play France in its seventh trip to the Euros quarterfinals in eight years.
And while Ronaldo's day job has since taken him far away from Manchester United, get to know more Premier League footballers right here:
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