Euro 2024 was the scene for a memorable moment during Portugal’s knockout game with Slovenia.
Icon Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take a spot-kick in extra-time, with the stadium braced for his first ‘Siuuu celebration’ of the tournament.
Instead, Ronaldo was left shellshocked as Jan Oblak saved his penalty. He was seen in tears, needing to be consoled by teammates as he processed the surprise miss.
His former Manchester United colleague Diogo Dalot stepped up, offering comfort and words of wisdom to the striker, who went on to score a penalty as Portugal won the shootout.
If the scene feels familiar, a Manchester United right-back consoling a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo, it is because we have seen it before – 16 years ago.
Gary Neville rallies around tearful Cristiano Ronaldo
It was way back in 2008 when we last saw a Manchester United right-back consoling a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo.
The circumstances were very different. The tears were mostly happy tears from Ronaldo, after Manchester United had won the Champions League in a penalty shootout against Chelsea.
Gary Neville, who also was not playing in the game similarly to Dalot, was the first player to check in on Ronaldo, excitedly putting his arm around the emotional Portuguese forward.
The night in Moscow was a rollercoaster of emotions for Ronaldo – who had missed his own spot-kick in a dramatic shootout.
John Terry’s slip cancelled out Ronaldo’s miss, before Nicolas Anelka’s penalty was saved by Edwin van der Sar.
Terry actually spoke up for Ronaldo on social media after his latest miss – criticising a BBC graphic which had dubbed him ‘Misstiano Penaldo’.
Cristiano Ronaldo penalty record
It certainly is not usual for Cristiano Ronaldo miss penalties, he has made a habit of scoring them.
He has scored 163 penalties across his career, missing 30. This does include shootouts.
This means Ronaldo has a scoring rate of 85 per cent, a strong return, and one he can be proud of, despite the painful misses.
If Portugal gets another penalty at Euro 2024, expect him to step up again. That’s what he does. His relentless pursuit of goals means he will never shy away from the chance to score another,