06/10/2026
🚨 Georgina Rodriguez on Cristiano Ronaldo watching Portugal beat Denmark after leaving the national team camp:
“When Cristiano came home, I didn’t ask him too many questions.
I could see his face.
I’ve known him long enough to understand when he wants to speak and when he needs silence.
So I thought, ‘Okay. Tonight, at least there will be no football.’
For once, Cristiano could just be human.
Be angry.
Feel disappointed.
Switch everything off.
Portugal were playing Denmark the next day and, honestly, part of me expected him not to watch.
I wouldn’t have blamed him.
Then match time came.
I walked into the room and the television was already on.
Portugal.
Of course.
I looked at him and said, ‘Seriously?’
He said, ‘What?’
I said, ‘You left them yesterday.’
He looked at me like I’d said something ridiculous.
‘Gio, I left the camp. I didn’t leave Portugal.’
That sentence stayed with me.
Because people sometimes forget that behind Cristiano Ronaldo the footballer is somebody who has lived with Portugal for more than twenty years.
Our children have grown up seeing that shirt.
They know when Portugal play because their father changes.
He doesn’t watch calmly.
Never.
Portugal attack, he’s leaning forward.
Someone makes the wrong pass, he’s talking to the television.
Someone scores, suddenly he’s standing.
At one point I told him, ‘You realise they cannot hear you?’
He said, ‘I know.’
Thirty seconds later he was giving instructions again.
Then Vitinha scored.
With his head.
Cristiano stood up laughing.
‘Vitinha?’
I said, ‘What?’
He said, ‘A header? Vitinha?’
He genuinely couldn’t believe it.
Later João Félix scored.
Cristiano pointed at the television immediately.
‘There. Again.’
I asked what he meant.
‘Three games.’
He already knew.
Three consecutive games scoring.
That’s when something about the whole thing broke my heart a little.
Because I had spent the day reading people saying Cristiano was angry with Portugal.
