Portugal dressing room’s sincere feelings towards Cristiano Ronaldo come to light after he broke down in tears

Tears on the pitch, tears in the stands, but support in the locker room.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s emotions may have boiled over during Portugal’s penalty shootout win over Slovenia but for now the message in the camp is that it’s his party and he can cry if he wants.

Ronaldo broke down in tears shortly after seeing his penalty saved in extra time by Jan Oblak, with the big screen at the Frankfurt Arena showing his mother Delores in the stands also crying.

It took the efforts of several Portuguese players to bring Ronaldo back early in the second half, during which Diogo Costa made a superb save from Benjamin Sesko before making three more in the penalty shootout.

For Portugal coach Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo’s decision to score his team’s first goal showed how much he wanted for his team. Even if it came with a few tears.

“He doesn’t have to worry about it that much, and that’s why I thank him for being the way he is, for caring about the group,” Martinez exclaimed.

“He is someone who, after missing a penalty, was the first to take the penalties (in the penalty shootout). And I knew, I was certain that he had to be the first to take the penalties and show us the way to victory.

“I think we’re all very, very proud of our captain, the dressing room was delighted with what he did, and I think he gives us all a lesson that you have to live every day like your last.

“You have to have a high standard and never give up. Life in football throws you tough moments and the way he reacted is a real example of that. We are very proud of him.”

Indeed, similar feelings quickly arose from the fall of the mounts of those in the Portuguese camp.

Bernardo Silva, who scored the winner, recalled his “brutal” experience of missing Manchester City’s crucial penalty against Real Madrid in April, while Joao Palhinha said: “It was Cristiano, but it could have been any of us.”

Hero goalkeeper Costa, who perhaps received a little less attention than he deserved for becoming the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a Euro shootout, said: “We all make mistakes, Cristiano and I do too, but what matters is what we do next.

“Cris is a hard worker, I understand his frustration, he dedicates a lot of time. He is an example for us, for me it is an honor to play with him.”

And he will continue to play with him in Friday’s quarter-final against France in Hamburg, with Martinez – who has faced constant questions over his selection of Ronaldo in Germany – showing no signs of wanting to abandon him.

Ronaldo himself, in a rare display of respect for his age, admitted after the match that this would be his last European Championship. He will be 43 when the UK and Ireland tournament takes place in 2028.

For now, his team are convinced he is the man to lead their line in 2024, even with the looming possibility of more tears on Friday night.

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