After Portugal’s exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli posted an emotional message to Cristiano Ronaldo on social media that read, You are, for me, the greatest of all time. This came in response to Portugal’s heartbreaking exit from the tournament.
On Saturday, December 10, Morocco defeated the Selecao 1-0 in the quarterfinals, ending Ronaldo’s World Cup hopes. FIFA later paid tribute to the 37-year-old with a video with the caption “Thank You, Ronaldo.” It may as well have been his final game in the competition.
Fans from all over the world expressed their love and support for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in the form of tearful photos of Ronaldo leaving the pitch. Now that Kohli has joined the fray.
The legendary cricketer from India, who is currently traveling with Team India to Bangladesh, has written a moving tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo, describing him as the “greatest of all time.” Kohli posted this to Instagram:
“For sports fans all over the world, your accomplishments in this sport cannot be diminished by any trophy or title. The impact you’ve had on people and the emotions we all experience when we watch you play cannot be described by a title. That is a divine gift.”
Kohli continues:
“A true blessing for a man who plays his heart out each and every time is the epitome of dedication and hard work and is a true sportsperson’s inspiration. You are, in my opinion, the greatest person ever.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most prolific goal scorer in the history of international football with 118 goals, and he also has the most appearances for Portugal with 196. He is famous for winning the UEFA Nations League and the Euro 2016 three years later.
The former Real Madrid star posted an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, his first response since Portugal’s 2022 FIFA World Cup demotion, in which he reaffirmed that his devotion to his team “never wavered.”
There were reports of Ronaldo taking steps to leave the public group on the off chance that supervisor Fernando Santos didn’t place him in the beginning setup. However, he has denied any such rumors, stating that he would never abandon his team or country.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future in question following FIFA World Cup heartbreak
After losing the FIFA World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is in doubt. He had previously stated that he would retire if Portugal won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, with Selecao’s exit from the last eight, questions have been raised regarding his future with the national team.
Having accomplished a lot with the team, he could retire at 37, but Ronaldo’s desire to play could keep him in the team until at least Euro 2024, which is only 18 months away.
However, his form hasn’t been great lately; he’s only scored three goals in 12 games this year, which is his lowest average since 2010.