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Euro 2024: Unseen footage sees Ronaldo in angry fit at Full Time
One thing is certain, Cristiano Ronaldo is not a loser, and of all things, he hates been on the losing side of a game, no matter how insignificant it might be to the grander scheme. And sometimes, a loss can get the better of his judgment.
Unseen footage has captured Cristiano Ronaldo’s heated reaction to Portugal’s stunning 2-0 defeat to Georgia in the group stage of Euro 2024. This match, held on Wednesday evening, marked one of the most significant upsets in international football history.
Georgia, participating in their first major tournament, secured a place in the last-16 as the best third-place team, astonishing fans and critics alike. Despite a 3-1 loss to Turkiye and a 1-1 draw with Czechia, Georgia’s performance against Portugal defied expectations.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Euro 2024 top goalscorer Georges Mikautadze were the heroes for Georgia, with Kvaratskhelia scoring within the first two minutes and Mikautadze adding a penalty goal.
Georgia, ranked 74th in the world, alternated between staunch defense and rapid counter-attacks to keep Portugal at bay, ultimately securing a historic victory.
Portugal’s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted by manager Roberto Martinez with 25 minutes remaining, a decision that clearly did not sit well with the 39-year-old star. However, Ronaldo’s most intense display of frustration came after the final whistle.
Footage uploaded to social media by @losblancoszone showed Ronaldo storming towards the tunnel, dramatically grabbing his shirt and gesticulating in frustration.
It remains unclear who Ronaldo’s anger was directed at, though the shirt-grabbing gesture might have referenced a penalty appeal that was dismissed by referee Sandro Schaerer in the first half. Ronaldo felt his shirt was tugged in the penalty area, but play was waved on, and he was booked for protesting.
Throughout the game, Ronaldo’s frustration was evident as he frequently complained to officials. The post-match footage, taken from the stands, painted a less-than-favorable picture of the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star, who appeared disinclined to acknowledge Georgia’s historic achievement.
Despite this defeat, Portugal had already secured the top spot in Group F and will face Slovenia in the round-of-16 in Frankfurt on Monday.
