Portugal 2-3 Sweden
I’m lucky to say I don’t have many footballing regrets as I’ve been thoroughly spoilt during the decades of my life as a football fan.
Yet something I wish I had managed was to take my son to football games – one would have sufficed – in which Cristiano Ronaldo was playing.
For what I was privileged to have witnessed on a few special occasions, my teenage son has only heard his dad reminisce about, or seen the odd glimpse of footage
of the man who defied sections of the media, who defied betting odds, who made the sports betting world and the wider public sit up and take notice.
I suppose home meant it was much easier to watch the kid from Madeira strut his stuff in England before his move to Spain in 2009.
The man who, even in an international friendly of limited importance like this, was always going to live up to his billing as the greatest player on the planet.
During his 57 minutes on the pitch, there was a certain inevitability the player who gives opponents twisted blood and turns them inside out, upside down, back to front, would be the key figure.
The opening goal set Portugal – the nation he led (almost single handedly at times) to become European Champions last summer – on their way on his homecoming.
The magician broke the deadlock and was the star attraction as the hosts burst into a 2-0 lead once Andreas Granqvist scored an own goal.
Not even a Viktor Claesson double and a late own goal could spoil this return to Ronaldo’s birthplace, the Island where his legacy as Portugal’s favourite son – yes, even above Eusebio – is assured.
This was Ronaldo’s 71st international goal, making him the joint third highest European international goalscorer of all time.
With Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas (84 goals) top of that list, you wouldn’t bet against Ronaldo exceeding that mark too.
For that is what he has spent his career achieving, surpassing feat after world class feat, for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Portugal (and briefly Sporting Lisbon).
After this game, Ronaldo will stay home for a few more hours – tomorrow, the Island’s airport in the capital city of Funchal will be renamed in his honour.
Not bad for a player who, when arriving in England in August 2003, prompted one well-known newspaper to declare that Sir Alex Ferguson had signed the wrong Ronaldo.
Oh how he and his journalistic colleagues must have laughed at the time.
But who is laughing now!
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