LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Cristiano Ronaldo unexpectedly received a message of congratulations from Harry Maguire after scoring a late goal to celebrate his 200th appearance for Portugal.
In the 90th minute of Tuesday’s Euro 2024 qualifying match against Iceland, Portugal’s legendary captain scored to secure a 1-0 victory for the guests.
It was his 123rd international goal, breaking his previous record, and to mark his 200th match with the Seleccao, Ronaldo uploaded a video to Instagram that featured a composite of all his greatest performances at the international level.
He captioned the video: “200 games with the same devotion, commitment, and responsibility, exactly like the first time I played with this shirt.
“I am here, keeping the ball in the net, working for my goal, and giving it everything I’ve got for the team and for our nation. To Portugal’s love.”
Three heart-eye emojis were used in his response by Marcelo, a close friend and former teammate of his at Real Madrid.
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However, it was unexpected to see Maguire praising Ronaldo as well, given the persistent rumors that the defender and the captain were engaged in a “power struggle” during his second stint at Manchester United.
Maguire responded to Ronaldo’s post with “Some achievement,” clapping, and fire emojis, indicating that the rumored conflict appears to be over.
In addition to being thrilled to have played 200 times for his nation, Ronaldo was made extra happier by his timely arrival to score the game-winning goal against a tenacious Iceland defense.
“I’m overjoyed. You never anticipate experiencing a moment like reaching 200 caps. It’s an incredible accomplishment.
“Naturally, scoring the winning goal makes it much more memorable,” he stated following the game.
Ronaldo will take a postseason vacation after completing his international duties, but he will play again on 17 July for his club Al-Nassr in a friendly matchup against Celta Vigo.
