EURO 2024: Georgia star says Ronaldo talk inspired him
Georgia star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia said his pre-match talk with Cristiano Ronaldo inspired him to play his best for the team.
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Talk with Ronaldo inspired Georgia star
That talk with Ronaldo fueled Kvaratskhelia to lead Georgia to a historic upset against Portugal, qualifying for the round of 16 at Euro 2024 on Wednesday.
The Napoli forward opened the scoring after just 92 seconds, and EURO 2024 top scorer Georges Mikautadze added the second goal via a penalty.
Kvaratskhelia, 23, admitted that the Al-Nassr superstar is his boyhood idol.
Nonetheless, Kvaratskhelia could not believe that Georgia could beat Ronaldo and the rest of Portugal.
“I got Ronaldo’s jersey and we’ve made it through to the next round,” said Kvaratskhelia via a translator.
“This is the best day in the lives of Georgian football fans. We’ve made history, no one would believe we’d make it happen.”
“No one would believe we could beat Portugal but that’s why we’re a strong team. If there’s even a 1% chance, we’ve shown we can make it happen.”
‘He’s one of the best players in the world’
Kvaratskhelia, who also wears number 7 in his shirt, wrote in the Players Tribune last week that he might ask for Ronaldo’s shirt.
“Will I ask Cristiano for his jersey after the game? Maybe. Probably. OK, yes. Why not? He is my idol. I will tell him that. But that does not mean we can’t win,”
A week later, the former Real Madrid himself approached him before the game.
“Before the match there was a meeting [with Ronaldo] and he wished me success; I’d never imagine he would come and talk to me.”
“He’s a great player and a great person. That’s why he’s a great personality in and out of football. I have so much respect for him. He’s one of the best players in the world.
“When he comes to talk to you before the match, that’s amazing. That helped us believe we could do something today.”
