Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Joao Felix (PC – Getty)
Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix once narrated his ‘weird’ first interaction with Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Since the incident took place in 2019, the pair have shared the pitch 34 times across competitions for their national team, bagging two joint goal contributions.
Although a more mature player now, Felix was only 19 years old at the time and represented Benfica in club football. Speaking to the official website of his then-employers, the former Chelsea forward said (via talkSPORT):
“It was weird! I have never seen (Ronaldo) up close in my real life and I said to my colleagues and best friends later when I got home it was like being in career mode on PlayStation- he looked like a video game character.”
“It was strange but it was a dream come true to be with him in the same training camp. I don’t remember what he said because at first, he was only thinking about what was at his feet. Anyway, it was very good,” he added.
During the phase, Felix was making his debut for Portugal and did so in a 3-1 Nations League win over Switzerland in 2019. So far in his career, the 24-year-old has made 41 appearances for the national team, bagging eight goals and four assists.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s future with Portugal remains uncertain following his country’s Euro 2024 disappointment. The Al-Nassr superstar failed to score in the continental competition as A Selecao were knocked out by France in the quarterfinals.
Joao Felix praised Cristiano Ronaldo during an interview in 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Joao Felix
Joao Felix continues to be in awe of Cristiano Ronaldo, considered by many to be one of the greatest footballers of all time. The Real Madrid legend is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
He has made 212 appearances across competitions for Portugal, registering 130 goals and 45 assists. Speaking about Ronaldo to Catalunya Radio’s program Tot Costa in 2024, Felix said (via GOAL):
“He is an example for everyone in Portugal, in football and in life. We are all very lucky to have met him and to have seen him play.”
It is uncertain how much longer we will see Ronaldo in action. His contract at Al-Nassr expires in the summer of 2025, a year before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
