CRISTIANO RONALDO was in floods of tears after missing an extra-time penalty amid extraordinary scenes at Euro 2024.
Mum Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro was also spotted distraught in the stands after Jan Oblak brilliantly foiled Ron‘s spot-kick in Portugal’s last-16 nail-biter with Slovenia.
Cristiano Ronaldo looked inconsolableGetty
Ronaldo’s mum Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro was also tearful
ReutersJan Oblak produced an absolutely stunning save from Ron’s penalty[/caption]
ReutersBruno Fernandes was among the players supporting Ronaldo[/caption]
ReutersRonaldo kept his cool to net his second penalty[/caption]
Ronaldo appeared to apologise to Portugal fans for his earlier miss when he tucked home his shootout spot-kickReuters
But there was an incredible twist – as the contest went to a shootout where Ron not only scored but APOLOGISED to Portuguese fans on the way to his side’s 3-0 win on penalties.
However, it was so different in the 105th minute – when Oblak plunged full length to tip Ron’s decent penalty away.
The strike legend at first just put his head in his arms and carried on.
But when the first period of the additional half-hour ended a few seconds later, his emotions erupted.
Team-mates tried to console Ron as tears streamed out, seemingly uncontrollably.
And when cameras panned to the stands, his mum also looked tearful.
Ronaldo entered the game on a career-worst run of seven games in international tournaments without a goal.
And as Portugal struggled against outstanding defending from Slovenia, the Manchester United legend had just a couple of chances in normal time to break that duck.
Cristiano Ronaldo let his emotions out
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Team-mates tried to console the legend
Slovenia’s outstanding defending limited him to just a couple of half-chances in normal time.
Then came his extra-time woe from the spot.
But Ronaldo made up for it when the clash went to penalties.
He smashed his spot-kick in the opposite corner.
And rather than celebrating he put his hands together and made a humble expression – in a gesture saying sorry to his country’s supporters at a sell-out Dusseldorf Stadium.
Portugal then clinched a 3-0 shootout success following a 0-0 draw where much of the drama came from the emotions of an icon rather than the limited creativity of his side.