Conor McGregor has spoken out after Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears after his penalty miss for Portugal at Euro 2024.
Ronaldo squandered a golden chance for his side during their last-16 clash with Slovenia on Monday with his spot-kick kept out by Jan Oblak.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star struggled contain his emotions before Portugal eventually progressed via penalties to book their spot in the last eight.
As Ronaldo broke down in tears at the Frankfurt Arena, UFC legend McGregor was quick to respond, sharing a touching update on his Instagram story.
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McGregor showed his support for Ronaldo by posting a picture of the player in tears with the words, "True passion for country! @Cristiano you are the greatest football player to grace this earth!
"God bless you brother! The past is glory! The present is history!", added McGregor with a string of heart-shaped emojis.
Ronaldo's Al Nassr teammate, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, also sent a message of support to the Portuguese.
"You will remain the great champion, CR7," he wrote on Instagram.
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McGregor and Ronaldo have previously enjoyed each other's company in Saudi Arabia when the pair sat together for a recent heavyweight boxing bout involving Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Ronaldo also spoke to the media after Slovakia win, insisting the ups and downs in football are part of what makes the beautiful game so enjoyable.
"Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That's what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments," he said.
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"One direct shot to give the team the lead and I didn't manage it. Oblak made a good save.
"I will have to see the penalty again. I don't know if I shot well or badly, but I haven't missed once all year, and when I needed it most, Oblak saved it."
Portugal will face France in their quarter-final on Friday and will have their work cut out against Didier Deschamps's side.
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Topics: Conor McGregor, Cristiano Ronaldo, Euro 2024, Portugal, Football
Matthew Holt