.png)
Portugal clinched a 2-1 win over Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich to book their place in the Nations League final — but the result was overshadowed by a worrying moment before kick-off when Cristiano Ronaldo was confronted by a pitch invader.
During the pre-match warm-up, a young supporter evaded stadium security and made a beeline for the Portuguese captain with his phone outstretched, apparently seeking a selfie. Despite stewards rushing to intervene, the fan managed to lay hands on the 40-year-old forward before being forcefully removed.
The fan appeared to plead with Ronaldo as officials dragged him away, in scenes eerily reminiscent of the chaos that marred Portugal’s Euro 2024 group match against Turkey, also held in Germany. On that occasion, six separate pitch invasions disrupted play, each targeting Ronaldo.
Reflecting on the repeat incident, Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez voiced serious concerns about player safety.
"It is a concern because today the intentions of the fans were good," he said. "But there will be a difficult moment if the intentions are wrong and players are exposed. I don’t think that should happen. Maybe there is a message to the fans that this is not the right way. It is not good that the players are so exposed on the pitch."
The match had already faced a setback with kick-off delayed by ten minutes due to a violent storm that dumped heavy hail and rain across Munich. As the teams took to the field to complete their preparations, the slippery conditions only added to the risk.
While Ronaldo’s encounter with the intruder ended without injury, the incident was unsettling. Footage showed the forward initially dodging the charging fan, narrowly avoiding a fall on the slick turf. Despite trying to evade contact, Ronaldo was eventually grabbed before Portugal staff and security stepped in. One steward placed the supporter in a headlock as they escorted him away.
Ronaldo’s teammates, visibly startled, resumed their warm-up while the veteran striker, looking bemused, carried on his pre-match routine.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner would later have the final say on the pitch, scoring the decisive goal in the semi-final victory — his 219th appearance for his country. Portugal now await the winner of Thursday’s clash between Spain and France as they prepare for the final.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Omar Ramadan, Pexels / Azad Ibrahim
