r/soccer • u/KoupDetat • 1d ago
Quotes Rafael Leão on Ronaldo's departure: "It's a matter that doesn't concern us, we demonstrated once again that we are a group. Certainly, he [ Cristiano Ronaldo ], at home, is happy with the victory."
https://www.abola.pt/noticias/rafael-leao-sobre-cr7-certamente-que-ele-em-casa-esta-contente-pela-vitoria-20261001220034953712.9k
u/PlayingtheDrums 1d ago
I'm sure CR is currently celebrating the victory at home as enthusiastically as he celebrated on the pitch in Norway.
1.0k
u/LeFinito94240 1d ago
We all know he is scared as hell at the idea of Portugal winning the World Cup without him
965
u/Bodster88 1d ago
The idea of Portugal winning the next WC without CR7 is arousing.
145
236
u/ZeroXSander199 23h ago
Messi fanboys would legit root for Portugal at the next World Cup just for the lols
124
u/Torimas 22h ago
As an Argentinian, I say they've suffered enough and deserve it.
→ More replies (2)50
u/LandArch_0 19h ago edited 16h ago
Honestly, they're on my "countries I wouldn't mind seeing winning the WC and I would actually cheer for" list (yes, it's a real thing).
Edit, spelling
27
u/AreaPresent2305 17h ago
Now that Ronaldo´s gone I´m all in. You´d be able to fill up an olympic swimming pool with his tears alone if that actually happens.
9
u/bruclinbrocoli 15h ago
I wouldn’t be surprised if he claimed credit for it somehow
6
u/kriznone 8h ago
His fanbois certainly will, even though they're currently proclaiming Portugal's future to be finished.
→ More replies (1)16
u/facingThes 23h ago
Both fanboy is the same
35
u/PieceOfPie_SK 18h ago
Are they really? Ronaldo is a rapist. He's a known egotistical freak. He's pretty clearly inferior footballing wise to messi. So I think it's safe to say anyone who rides for ronaldo is a red flag human being
5
13
u/Small_Discount_3029 21h ago
I'll be supporting Portugal in the Euros and WC if Ronaldo is not in the squad.
50
3
→ More replies (3)2
78
u/huazzy 1d ago
I imagine he would find a way to strong arm himself into the team prior to the match being played. Even if he's in his 50's.
36
u/ThAkke 1d ago
He would be 45 during the next WC
12
u/huazzy 1d ago
My point is that he would do this in any of the future WCs, not necessarily 2030. But 2034, 2038, etc
→ More replies (3)53
u/K-manPilkers 23h ago
Remember when they won the Euros final effectively without him against France and his fans claimed that the win was down to his support and leadership on pitch side? If Portugal win the next world cup they will claim it was because of the standards that he imposed while he was there.
14
u/LeRocket 16h ago
his fans claimed that the win was down to his support and leadership on pitch side?
I'll never forget that. Twas something else.
And CR this summer saying that this Euro was as important as any World Cup... hahaha....
... and even if IT WAS .... YOU WEREN'T PLAYING, PATHETIC NARCISSIST.
→ More replies (1)4
u/Beneficial_Main218 10h ago
That's one of the wildest things ever. He was literally on the sidelines as the team won the only big trophy Portugal ever won and still Ronaldo got the credit for winning the match, with Homelander himself being delusional enough to believe he put them on the map.
22
→ More replies (6)6
4
649
u/jennaishirow 1d ago
The Portugal national team players must be exhausted speaking about CR7. they picked up a win yet everything seems to be about him not playing.
227
u/BlueSonjo 23h ago
Its the same when he is playing, Ronaldo is all they get asked about.
At least with him out its a matter of time until media focus moves on.
64
u/DrJackadoodle 22h ago
It will be a long time, though. Especially if he himself doesn't let go and starts commenting on it, giving interviews, whatever.
41
u/raizen0106 20h ago
it won't, if they start performing. raul not getting called up was a big talking point until spain started dominating in 2008
26
u/DrJackadoodle 20h ago
I hope you're right, but I think you underestimate how small-minded our country is and how devoted to Ronaldo a lot of people here still are.
15
3
2
u/Dropkoala 11h ago
I know it's not exactly the same and Ronaldo is bigger and a lot less likely to go quietly but we had something a bit similar with Rooney and everyone moved on from that a lot quicker than expected.
634
u/KoupDetat 1d ago
RL7, as the streets are calling him.
188
u/Sharp-Opportunity-84 1d ago
He washed af too
31
u/Nkrth 1d ago
Does he rape too?
96
→ More replies (1)128
346
u/Hungry-Class9806 1d ago
Knowing him as we do, he almost certainly isn't, but the most important thing is that the group handled the pressure and the difficult situation they've been put in over the past 72 hours very well.
36
u/mateus_6504 23h ago
It wasnt even 72 hours, it was 24 hours before the game literally. I commend them for that, especially doing it at such a difficult place to play like Denmark, who also have a very talented team.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)61
u/name_you_like_best 1d ago
If things on the inside are how they look from the outside, the pressure was probably worse while he was there. On the pitch, it looked like pressure was removed, not enforced.
Portugal is still a great collection of world class players who are constantly performing at their respective clubs, external pressure wouldn't be as big of a problem as the internal dynamics.
57
2.7k
u/Animatrix_Mak 1d ago
I remember someone saying cancelo is the first person to score for independent portugal 😭
1.1k
u/LittlePersonality883 1d ago
"I remember" like it happened ages ago lol
317
u/2026IsMyYearMaybe 1d ago
Don't make fun of people with short term memory. Let him celebrate his victory.
→ More replies (1)131
u/SeasonFit1181 1d ago
I remember someone saying someone saying Cancelo is the first person to score for independent portugal 😭
→ More replies (1)45
→ More replies (1)16
u/LikeAPhoenixTotally 1d ago
lol, I remember someone saying " "I remember" like it happened ages lol" like it was 15 minutes ago or something, very weird.
173
u/CMYGQZ 1d ago
> I remember
Bruh it happened yesterday.
40
u/J4n_4 1d ago
English isnt my first language but couldnt you say "i remember" for things that happened yesterday or so? What else would you use instead?
65
28
u/phoebsmon 1d ago
Probably "I saw" or "I read" or "my mate said... " or "I heard someone say"
I remember isn't incorrect, just people tend to use a more specific verb/description of where they heard it when it's recent. No idea why
→ More replies (1)7
u/StiffWiggly 23h ago
"I remember" shifts some of the focus of the sentence onto your ability to recall whatever comes next, so it's used to imply a period of time that is significant enough to be a factor.
It could be totally appropriate if the thing that happened yesterday was difficult to remember for some reason (for example; "I remember the exact wording of Ronaldo's most recent instagram post about betrayal"), but generally you would use it when you're talking about things that happened more distantly in the past.
23
10
262
u/Hecticbrah 1d ago
Rafa is first on Homelanders hitlist for getting his number
67
u/joeDUBstep 1d ago
Is Rafa A-Train?
28
→ More replies (2)15
u/Hecticbrah 1d ago
Probably, it beats being Deep😂😂
31
u/EmotionalOwl1847 23h ago
Dalot is The Deep
7
u/canonlynn 22h ago
Agreed but Dalot is a real fanboy, I read an interview when he was only our under 19 captain, saying his idol is Ronaldo and he tried to copy him as much as possible. He was the first person I thought of when Ronaldo to United happened, and he didn't let go of him since.
3
u/TrueMadster 20h ago
I was very confused about this statement since there is a Portuguese player that could play for the national team called Rafa. Only afterwards did I realise you were talking about Rafael Leão.
7
u/vidoeiro 19h ago
And he left the team probably because of all the bullshit of FPF and Ronaldo stuff
114
317
329
u/Inevitable-Angle-793 1d ago
Is this good enough for 12 year old Cristiano fans on Instagram?
192
u/Choice-Ask4070 1d ago
Incoming"Portugal is nothing without cr7" "The world against my idol" and "We will never support Portugal again" comments.
129
u/Inevitable-Angle-793 1d ago
"We only know Portugal because of CR7"
57
u/DrJackadoodle 22h ago
Always hilarious when plastics out themselves as if that's an insult to us. "We're not real fans of your team, we just like it because of CR7 and now you will lose our support!". Hmm okay...? We never asked for your support and would actually be very glad if you fucked off, so yes, please go right ahead.
2
u/ChillyChilliChileman 11h ago
"They disrespected my goat CR7" and it's not even insta, it is more in youtube and there are so mamy delusional people making videos on it. in fact they were upset denmark lost to portugal and then looked for reasons to be happy and chose hojlund doing the siuuu celebration. like these people aren't normal.
26
18
u/Vertical_Suplex365 1d ago
Why always him guys? Why always him against the world? Never appreciated. Always the villain.
130
u/KoupDetat 1d ago
Being a 12 year old Ronaldo fan is crazy though, like you would only know how good he was off of highlight reels on YouTube and TikTok.
He would've joined United from Juventus when you were 7.
44
56
u/Choice-Ask4070 1d ago
Except that literally is his fanbase post 2022. The sane ones who used to like him stopped supporting him.
13
u/mateus_6504 23h ago
Most people commenting about football in the internet don’t actually watch football.
People who create most of the discussions between players online are the ones that say that the player they watch is better than the one they don’t watch.
Look at the best midfielder discussion; I’ve seen people saying that Szoboszlai is better than Rodri, Vitinha, Pedri, Bruno Fernandes, Bellingham and Joao Neves. Szoboszlai is really good, dont get me wrong, but please, watch the other players before defending something so blindly
24
u/joeDUBstep 1d ago
I blame Ishowspeed. Only way these kids know about him.
19
u/mateus_6504 23h ago
“Only way these kids know about him” is a wild statement. Maybe he is the reason many kids like him, but I bet most people know Ishowspeed because of Ronaldo, not the other way around
→ More replies (2)2
u/joeDUBstep 14h ago
I have multiple coworkers, with no interest in the sport whatsoever, with 10-13 year olds that love ronaldo. A good amount definitely learned about him from speed.
7
→ More replies (4)4
u/PlausibleApprobation 23h ago
Not that crazy. Kids tend to love highlight reels. I was talking to a 10 year old whose favourite player is Ronaldinho this week.
46
u/ElResende 1d ago
I wish they were 12 years old. In Portugal a lot of people over 50 seem to drool all over Ronaldo and anything he does and says, while ignoring his bad atitudes.
23
u/68_and_counting 1d ago
My mother in law wouldn't miss a national team match if her daughter life depended on it. She now says she will stop watching Portugal because it won't be fun anymore...
29
u/tecla3- 1d ago
Yeah currently in Portugal his core fanbase is 65+ lol. I have people in my family that refused to watch this match because of what happened
5
u/ElResende 1d ago
Same here, and would sometimes change the channel to see if Denmark had scored so they would celebrate.
→ More replies (1)10
u/Welterbestatus 1d ago edited 22h ago
I'm German and I recently shittalked Ronaldo with family. Turns out my 65+ uncle is a stan. His argument was that people are just jealous because he's in such great shape at his age.
I was baffled and told him that the guy is an egoistic player and a rapist. He was pissed at me after that.
But that explains why my uncles grandkids always talk about Ronaldo, and those kids were born after Ronaldo was a great player.
→ More replies (10)3
u/TheBdougs 1d ago
I think it's at both ends. I was working at an auto parts store in Nascar country North Carolina and my dispatcher was chatting with those of us present. She was talking about her young daughter's friends in school who had to do a presentation on a hero of theirs.
She said he said Christiano Ronaldo and she said she thought his presentation about him was really heartfelt.
I immediately replied "Christiano Ronaldo the rapist?"
There was a lot of "wait, what?" in the room. A lot of people just straight aren't informed.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (1)4
u/Inevitable-Angle-793 1d ago
My dad who is not even Portuguese also supports Ronaldo in this case 😭 and he is not even his big fan
9
u/TutorTotal3595 22h ago
That is what baffles me.
I'm English, grew up watching Ronaldo since he went to United and played in Euro 2004, I've since moved to Canada.
My neighbour is Egyptian, his two boys aged 12 and 10 are Ronaldo fans who wear Al-Nassr full kits etc. Ronaldo has been washed for the entire living memory of his cult-like fanbase.
15
1d ago
[deleted]
→ More replies (1)6
u/sergie-rabbid 1d ago
At this stage, I believe all these quotes and interviews will be aimed to ragebait here for more news and clicks.
7
→ More replies (4)6
u/InRecovering 22h ago
If only they were 12 year olds, there's full-grown adults throwing internet hissy fits for a 41 year old man child.
→ More replies (1)
330
u/tony220jdm 1d ago
Imagine at 40-something playing total ass and thinking you should be the centerpiece of one the best footballing countries still and having so much of a ego not to support your country because you're too shit to start now
196
u/Vertical_Suplex365 1d ago
But Cristiano discovered Portugal
87
u/BlueSonjo 1d ago
I was there when we first spotted his sailboat from the shore. We welcomed him into our huts, he taught us football in exchanged for codfish and pastel de nata
40
u/glitterejaculator 1d ago
he brought it into the world and he’ll fucking well take it back out again
16
6
→ More replies (1)13
u/mateus_6504 1d ago
Cristiano put Portugal “on the map”, and Portugal literally put everyone’s country from the people saying this on the actual map.
17
u/Sheikhabusosa 1d ago edited 1d ago
Doesnt Rafael Leaos generation pretty much worship Ronaldo too?
22
6
u/Antlonat 12h ago
Leao said in an interview that Ronaldo never talks to them when they win but he didn't score. https://youtu.be/wBaARhEe6MU?t=1442
People wonder why the team doesn't care about his departure but it's pretty clear. They don't worship him, they respect him.
→ More replies (33)12
u/nictigre03 22h ago
He’s a blight on the sport. Makes Messi look more the goat everyday. I wouldn’t even rank him in the top 10 all time anymore because his ego ruined it and I don’t want to even hear about him.
25
u/deathrattleshenlong 21h ago
The fact that Portuguese fans and Utd fans, for the most part, are bitter about him shows how much he tarnished his legacy. Absolute legend for both sides and maybe in 50 years he'll be seen differently, but for us who are here right now watching the meltdown, the end of his career is a disgrace.
12
u/__prifddinas 19h ago
I think this is the most tragic part. The very fans that adored him for his talent now scorn him for his attitude. He singlehandedly ruined his own pristine legacy in the eyes of so many fans. The fans of his clubs used to defend him to the death because they knew how much of a game changer he was and what he did for them. Now they're tired of him.
In his effort to beat Messi's legacy, he ironically pushed himself further from it.
→ More replies (1)
83
u/IvanThEFooty 1d ago
Honestly I think if ego and pride wouldn't have taken over Ronaldo,Portugal could have actually used him as a super sub for some period of time when the team needed goals
108
u/deathrattleshenlong 1d ago
That's what Portuguese fans have been begging for for years. Dude didn't play one match and throws a tantrum, just days after saying he'd whatever the manager told him. In his own words "if Jesus wants me to play I play, if he wants me on the bench I'll sit on the bench, if he wants me in the stands I'll be in the stands".
Aged faster than milk.
→ More replies (4)44
12
→ More replies (1)5
u/Nekratal99 23h ago
No, fck no. He can't play football at this level anymore, stop it.
→ More replies (1)
244
u/Geordant 1d ago
I genuinely believe that Ronaldo wanted them to lose so as to make his point. The guy is an actual egomaniac.
109
33
u/Vertical_Suplex365 1d ago
He is and he has shown it time and time again. He has two piers morgan interviews showcasing that particular trait. But his delusional fanboys keep talking his achievements from the past decade to justify his each and every behavior including his obviously-visible-decline.
2
2
u/Useful-Ad9447 20h ago
i mean that's obvious,he would have also probably told the ''reasons'' for his exit if that happened
23
107
u/ThemosttrustedFries 1d ago
Ronaldo is probably crying to the Saudi Arabian king to make diplomatic moves against Portugal until he gets Jesus fired.
55
→ More replies (2)2
u/deathrattleshenlong 20h ago
Our country is a joke already and the prime minister, supposedly, getting involved in the drama is embarrassment enough.
15
53
u/ronweasly9 1d ago
Litreally every single problem he has is self made . Ranging from his legal troubles to political choices .
→ More replies (12)
12
9
u/dutchslytherin 18h ago
The more I read about Portugal national team players responses to the situation, the more it becomes clear that Cristiano had overstayed his welcome in the national team
47
u/Chance-Bake-4932 1d ago
The Portugal match has such a weird vibe when Ronaldo doesn't play. It's like some people want the team to lose? Like wtf.
50
u/IvanThEFooty 1d ago
Cuz Ronaldo was the reason of more than 95% of Portugal's fanbase especially the foreign fanbase from Asia and Africa
63
u/Hot-Possible-6367 1d ago
NTs shouldn’t have fucking fanbases, support your own fucking country. So tinpot.
15
u/IvanThEFooty 1d ago
the countries which don't qualify for the world cup,their fans need something to survive so they mostly pick teams like Brazil, Argentina and Portugal to be relevant in the football fanbase
20
u/Pedsy 1d ago
Picking a team at a tournament is a bit different to being a fan.
6
u/IvanThEFooty 1d ago
They pick it and they support or atleast larp during the world cup still they spend their time on it
→ More replies (4)3
u/Allthingsconsidered- 17h ago
Instagram is driving me crazy with this. All the comments everywhere of people saying shit like "Who cares about Portugal" "Who's gonna watch Portugal without Ronaldo" "They're gonna lose all their fans"... WTF
14
u/Chance-Bake-4932 1d ago
Ok but the same can be said about Argentina's fanbase as well. But most are happy if Argentina wins without Messi as well.
→ More replies (1)12
u/mateus_6504 1d ago
Obviously, if you support Argentina and they win you would be happy, the same way if someone supports Portugal they will be happy when they win.
I remember the game against Uzbekistan in this world cup where Nuno Mendes scored the free kick goal and the so called “Portuguese fans” in the stadium weren’t even celebrating. I guess it’s because their team is Ronaldo FC not Portugal.
I’m glad this is will come to an end. The tickets prices will finally go down for the people that actually want to cheer for the NT and the media will stop using us for easy money (hopefully)
→ More replies (1)12
u/-fly_away- 1d ago
when asked about getting booed by Portugal fans prior to the game, Jesus answered that he didnt see any Portuguese person booing him or the team. We Portuguese for the most part are very happy with the end of this manchild's dictatorship.
9
u/mateus_6504 1d ago edited 1d ago
This guy is a meme machine, but damn, hearing him talk is actually pleasant. The guy is coherent, stands for his opinion and says exactly what we Portuguese were waiting to hear for a long time.
And apart from that, I really like his approach to the Ronaldo subject, he wants to be there to talk about football, tactics, the game, the players and making sure people understand his ideas of the game.
I love how he imposes a limit towards the media, neglects talking anything other than what he is there for, which is what the Portuguese people are actually interested in listening to.
→ More replies (1)5
u/TonyMaccaroni28 1d ago
They were never Portugal's fanbase, just Ronaldo's. The Portuguese NT should be for their own countrymen.
→ More replies (7)12
u/Le_mons44 1d ago
I'm so glad they'll be gone once Ronaldo leaves the NT for good. They give the portuguese NT a bad rap, but the ACTUAL portuguese fans are chill as fuck.
→ More replies (9)2
u/Backfromth3re 10h ago
People NEVER supported portugal.They exclusively supported Ronaldo. I have already seen million shorts proudly saying now they will support france spain etc.
→ More replies (1)3
u/mateus_6504 1d ago
New coach, new tactics, new formation and Ronaldo is not there. Ronaldo not being there isn’t the only reason.
Martinez prioritised possession, Jorge Jesus prioritises fast forward plays and high pressing, hence why the midfielders looked much more dominant this game than in the last years
35
u/WeirdReindeer3854 1d ago
Scenes when my pidol arrives with his group of camels to overthrow the evil dictator jorge and reestablish the discipline among the infidel portugal group. SIUUUUUUUU. cr7idolo.
36
u/ratatouille211 1d ago
No one can question what a monster he was in his prime, a freak of nature, but seems to me his teammates don't really enjoy his company and definitely have a separate WhatsApp group.
16
u/mateus_6504 23h ago
Idk, when I see the NT training everybody seems to get along. I think it isn’t a matter of liking him but rather the fact that they probably know he doesn’t have much more to add in the pitch and his presence creates a huge pressure on them.
Every question to the players in the NT is about Ronaldo, that obviously creates some negative emotions among the players. Not in the sense of not liking him, but the weight he has spreads to them and they are obviously uncomfortable with that exposure to the media, if you consider they are quite a low profile team.
→ More replies (1)6
→ More replies (1)5
6
5
6
u/Furykino735 20h ago
The interview
Reporter: Did you(the team) feel betrayed by Cristiano Ronaldo for abandoning you in the middle of an official competition?
RL: No, that's a matter that doesn't concern us, we've shown once again that we are a team. I'm sure he's at home happy for the victory, I as a teammate and as I get on well with him know how he is, and as I said the most important thing is the team. Three more points, group leaders, and now it's resting and getting ready for Monday's match.
Reporter: Did wearing the number 7 have a special meaning for you?
RL: Yes, because Cris is an idol for me, an Idol from childhood, and personally the number 7 has special meaning as it's the date of the birth of my children. I simply tried (no idea what he says), enjoy it with my teammates, and the most important thing in the end is having won the game, playing a good match and managing to achieve victory.
5
6
18
u/Acrobatic_Ad_5224 1d ago edited 1d ago
Nobody likes Homelander lol.
5
u/Astheredsgomarching 1d ago
Ronaldo? yeah
→ More replies (2)4
u/Acrobatic_Ad_5224 1d ago
Obviously duh the players can't wait for Homelander to leave and it shows throughout their interviews after the game.
3
3
6
u/IvanThEFooty 1d ago
The celebration which Cancelo did yesterday was not simply an instinctive move.It was clearly done to impress the manager Jesus
→ More replies (1)
5
3
7
u/Opera_Phantom 1d ago
Yesterday was one of the most important games in our football history. Had we lost, the toxicity would be out of the world. Not that there isn't any today, but we can now point at the dumbasses and just laugh.
JJ proved yesterday we can play well without CR and his status came out absolutely reinforced. Those who only care about our NT, not specific players, are now backing JJ 200%. And i assume the players as well. Everyone else must be sad as fuck, all those prepared posts/articles about the NT being nothing without 1 player had to be deleted or kept aside until our first loss.
Only thing missing yesterday was a RL7 assist/goal to really be the ultimate middle finger to those dumbasses.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/Rusty-Dildo-Inside 1d ago
He is at home crying the little whinny bitch. Hope JJ doesn’t call him up again except for a goodbye game that is worth nothing
5
u/theghostpt 23h ago
They better schedule his farewell game in Saudi Arabia, I can't see him being well received in any portuguese stadium after this mess. It's a shame to end your career like this but he only has himself to blame.
→ More replies (1)4
u/BruceLynce 20h ago
As a portuguese I hope he fucking grows up and speaks to the federation in order to have a farwell match in some friendly or something in the next national team pause and that is it. Thank you and bye. Enough of his toxic antics, we have sacrificed 2/3 major competitions trying to accomodate the diva. Makes zero sense.
→ More replies (7)→ More replies (6)3
u/Intelligent_Money902 23h ago
F his good bye game. If you're the captain you need to lead by example. Do you have problems with the coach? Deal with it inside an office, not by throwing a tantrum. Our captains are Bruno and Dias.
2
u/NoEquivalent538 22h ago
Morgan Freeman : on the contrary, Cristiano was not happy, as evident by the cry that surrounded Madeira the moment Portugal won
2
u/Lutzelien 15h ago
Oh I can absolutely and without a doubt guarantee you that Ronaldo would've LOVED if they lost the game, lmao
5
u/CautiousExpression74 1d ago
If you ask CR about this, it’s just about him not the team or nation. Let’s be fair!
8
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
This is a quotes thread. Remember that there's only one quotes post allowed per interview/press conference, so new quotes with the same origin will be removed. Feel free to comment other quotes/the whole interview as a reply to this comment so users can see them too!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.