He walked away with tears streaming down his cheeks. We shall probably never see his kind again. Cristiano Ronaldo was one of a kind and has probably played his last match in the national colours of Portugal. The defeat to Morocco has probably ensured that and for fans in Goa it has been a heartbreaking experience.
Heartbreak is a constant in sport. Craig Afonso who has spent time in dugouts in Goa said it was still heartbreaking to see a team with the quality of Portugal lose to Morocco. Craig said “Ronaldo might be the greatest player to play the game but he will now leave without winning the World Cup. It is cruel but then that is sport at the highest level,” Afonso said. For some Goans, it is difficult for them to contemplate a Portuguese defeat. Fabio Fernandes felt it was a completely unexpected loss for Portugal. He said, “We were all expecting them to win and reach the finals against Argentina but Morocco just created history proving this World Cup is so unpredictable. I was not expecting a loss for Portugal and felt bad especially for Ronaldo who was in tears after the match since he was playing his last World Cup match. This will be a lousy weekend.”
For fans in Goa, the absence of Ronaldo from the national team is a calamity not many can contemplate. For Anish Gaude it brought back memories when he first saw Ronaldo. He said, “I was 9 years old when I watched my first match with Cristiano Ronaldo.”
He said, “I did not know his name, jersey number, his national team or club but when I saw his game I was inspired by his skill. From that time I was a big fan, my only dream was for Portugal to win the World Cup and for Ronaldo to win the Golden Boot in the FIFA world. I thought it would happen in this World Cup. Reality however intruded and we were left in shock.”
This feeling of shock and sadness is what fans talk about. A team that played well and seemed cohesive and led by a motivated captain, what could go wrong? Plenty it seems.