As you may be aware, a certain prodigal son returned to Sporting Lisbon last night, with Cristiano Ronaldo afforded VIP status for the duration of Real Madrid’s visit to the Jose Alvalade.
Of course, Ronaldo played a prominent part in Madrid’s 2-1 win but it was after the game, in the UEFA-sanctioned mixed zone (for press) that the Portuguese superstar really shone.
Here’s journalist Rory Smith with a play-by-play account of how the heart-warming little vignette unfolded…
A little story from last night, which may take a few tweets, so bear with me. The mixed zone was, obviously, packed, mainly for @Cristiano.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
Lots of reporters, and lots of fans, too (Partridgean note to @SportingCP_en: that isn’t actually what a mixed zone is for)
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
Cristiano doesn’t come out for ages, so @realmadrid send Fabio Coentrao back in to get him, at last explaining what his job actually is.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
When he does, the screams start (from the fans). He ignores the journalists (which is standard) but stops for a kid standing next to me.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
The kid gets a selfie. His Dad takes a back-up photo. The kid’s like 13. He starts physically shaking. Heaving for breath. Tears. The works.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
As @MarkOgden_ (also present) said, it’s easy to forget – as a journalist, as an adult, as a cynic – what people like Ronaldo mean.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
The kid needed about 5 minutes to compose himself. It was like he’d had a religious experience.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
Ronaldo spent all that time with other fans: signing stuff, posing for selfies. Most of them were spontaneously vibrating at the end, too. pic.twitter.com/TSkQQTkydF
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
I’m not sure I have a conclusion. Just that, for all its soap opera nonsense, pretty great football can mean that much to people. FIN.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) November 23, 2016
Wonderful, no?
As we’ve seen several times before, the man most definitely uses his inimitable powers for good more often than not.