Cristiano Ronaldo's coach and team-mates praised his leadership after Sunday's Nations League final win over Spain in Munich.
The triumph, which left the five-times Champions League winner in tears, was Ronaldo's third on the international stage, accompanying his 2016 European Championship and 2019 Nations League winners' medals.
Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears as Portugal picked up their second Nations League title by beating holders Spain 5-3 on penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in Sunday's final.
It doesn’t take an extensive survey to conclude that millions of football fans share at least one common dream -- to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two GOATs of football, play together on the same team.
The final [Monday, 1am Bangladesh Time] in Munich has been framed as a showdown between veteran Ronaldo, 40, one of the game's biggest names, and 17-year-old Yamal, the most exciting young talent in world football.
France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying "considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that's all I wish for him".
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez and midfielder Bernardo Silva praised Cristiano Ronaldo for his "hunger" and "ambition" after the 40-year-old striker continued to defy the years with a 68th-minute winner against Germany on Thursday, which booked a spot in Sunday's Nations League final.
Ronaldo's 68th-minute tap in, a record-extending 137th international goal, sealed a first win over Germany after five losses, the 40-year-old's longest streak against any national side without tasting victory.
The 14-year-old forward, who plays for Al Nassr’s academy, came on as a substitute in the 54th minute with Portugal already leading 3-0, thanks to a hat-trick from Braga’s Rafael Cabral. Ronaldo Jr wore the iconic No. 7 shirt, the same number his father famously wore during his glittering career.
Barcelona and Inter Milan shared a compelling 3-3 draw in a high-octane Champions League semi-final first leg clash on Wednesday, with teenage star Lamine Yamal shining bright.
"There were some big names playing here. Before we went on the pitch they were next to me. It felt like it was a video game."
Ronaldo, the top scorer in this season's Saudi Pro League, has eight in seven appearances in this campaign's Champions League Elite, one short of joint-top scorers Riyad Mahrez, Salem Al-Dawsari, Anderson and Jasir Asani.
The 19-year-old forward, who trains daily alongside one of football’s all-time greats, is part of a promising Saudi Arabian generation aiming to make a statement on the global stage.
Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo-owned Pestana CR7 Hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco, avoided catastrophe recently when a fire broke out at the establishment but was quickly contained by the emergency services.
With 931 goals already to his name across club and country, Ronaldo needs just 69 more to etch his name into a category all his own.
Al-Nassr remain in the third place with 54 points but they are now three points behind second-placed Al-Hilal and seven off leaders Al-Ittihad, who visit Al-Ahli on Saturday.
Mbappe idolised Ronaldo while growing up and after joining Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, has equalled the Portuguese striker's tally of 33 goals in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Al-Nassr striker was highly critical of himself and his team's performance in the first leg in Copenhagen, where Portugal lost to a Rasmus Hojlund goal, but he is confident the home crowd can play a key role in turning the tie around.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi side Al Nassr were on Monday drawn against last season's runners-up Yokohama F-Marinos of Japan in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League.
