Georgia star says something special in home team's historic win

Highlights Georgia 2-0 Portugal

"I got Ronaldo's jersey. And our team qualified for the round of 16. This is the best day of my life as a Georgian," said 23-year-old striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after the shocking 2-0 victory over Portugal in the final Group F match of Euro 2024 on the morning of June 27 (Vietnam time).

Kvaratskhelia scored the opening goal for Georgia just two minutes into the game, stunning the Portuguese players, and then produced an emotional display of football before being substituted to enthusiastic cheers from the fans at the end of the match.

Ngôi sao Georgia nói điều đặc biệt trong chiến thắng lịch sử của đội nhà - 1 — Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shone with the opening goal against Portugal (Photo: Getty).

Before the match against Portugal, Kvaratskhelia said his dream was to get a Cristiano Ronaldo jersey. A photo that went viral on social media before Georgia's match showed Ronaldo visiting a football academy in Tbilisi in 2013, surrounded by the excited gazes of many young players, including Kvaratskhelia.

Ultimately, the 2001-born striker's wish was granted when Ronaldo agreed to give him his jersey right before the match, although Portugal later disappointed by losing to Georgia 0-2.

"Everyone is very happy, we just made history. Nobody could have believed that we would do that by beating Portugal. But I think this is why we are a strong team," Kvaratskhelia said after the victory.

The Napoli striker also added about Ronaldo's agreement to give him his jersey right before the match: "When he came to me before the match and wished me success, it was fantastic."

I realized that I really can do it and we can achieve so much today because the win has given us so much motivation. This is the best day of my life because doing this with the Georgia team is harder than doing it with the Napoli team."

Georgia's next opponent in the round of 16 is another team just as strong as Portugal: Spain.