The tears that made Ronaldo a legend.

The moment Ronaldo collapsed on the pitch at Da Luz was not just the sadness of his 19th year, but also the beginning of a legend who would conquer all of Europe.

Ronaldo once shed tears when Portugal lost a match.

On July 4, 2004, the Da Luz stadium in Lisbon seemed ready to explode. Portugal, with its talented "golden generation" - Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Deco - entered the EURO final on home soil with unwavering belief in their first-ever championship title.

But football is always unforgiving. Greece, an underdog team, created a historic shock with their tenacious defensive tactics and a single goal from Angelos Charisteas.

When the final whistle blew, the image of a young man collapsing in tears became etched in the memories of millions of fans – 19-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo experiencing the pain of defeat at the highest level for the first time.

From the Lisbon shock to the desire for victory

Ronaldo had just finished his first season with Manchester United. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari considered him a bold gamble, but the young man quickly proved that choice was the right one.

Ronaldo scored in the opening match – even though Portugal lost 1-2 to Greece – and continued to shine in the semi-final against the Netherlands with a superb header. Figo, his great mentor, saw in Ronaldo the image of his "successor," always encouraging him to confidently showcase his abilities.

However, in the final, all of Portugal's efforts were in vain. They possessed exquisite technique, youthful energy, and a burning desire, but they could not penetrate Greece's disciplined defense.

When the match ended, Ronaldo burst into tears. These weren't just the tears of a young player, but the pain of an entire nation yearning for glory.

The biggest difference in Ronaldo is his attitude towards failure. He doesn't allow himself to be defeated. The pain of Lisbon that year became the driving force that forged him into a resilient man, constantly obsessed with victory. Euro 2004 was the beginning of his journey to building a football legend.

Now, at the age of 40, Ronaldo is a legend of world football.

Twelve years later, when EURO 2016 took place, Ronaldo was no longer the boy he once was. He stepped onto the field wearing the captain's armband, the number one icon of Portuguese football. And history smiled upon Ronaldo.

This time, Portugal overcame host nation France with a thunderous long-range shot from Eder in the final. Ronaldo shed tears, but they were tears of glory – even though he had to leave the field in the first half due to injury.

Milestones of growing up

Looking back at EURO 2004, Ronaldo's journey was like a symphony full of emotions. In the opening match against Greece (1-2), he came on as a substitute and scored his first goal for the national team - albeit a consolation goal. In the victory against Russia (2-0), Ronaldo came on in the 78th minute, showing his energy and desire.

In the crucial match against Spain (1-0), in his first start, Ronaldo made his mark on the wing with daring bursts of speed. In the quarter-final against England (2-2, won 6-5 on penalties), he successfully converted a penalty, demonstrating the composure of a fearless player.

In the semi-final against the Netherlands (2-1), Ronaldo opened the scoring with a powerful header. In the final against Greece (0-1), despite playing the full 90 minutes, Cristiano was helpless against the Greek "wall" and ended up in tears.

It was in those moments that a vividly portrayed a young but passionate Ronaldo – his slicked-back hair, his physique not yet perfected, but his eyes always burning with belief.

Even at his age, Ronaldo still doesn't want to stop.

More than two decades later, the image of the number 17 player crying on the pitch at Da Luz remains an icon. It reminds us that all glory is forged from bitter defeats. Without the pain of 2004, there would be no CR7 with five Ballon d'Or awards, numerous goalscoring records, and global iconic status.

Those tears weren't just sadness; they marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Ronaldo transformed defeat into motivation, turning tears into fuel to reach the top. He not only achieved victory for himself but also elevated Portuguese football to unprecedented heights – proof that a defeat today can be the foundation of glory tomorrow.

Source: https://znews.vn/nhung-giot-nuoc-mat-lam-nen-huyen-thoai-ronaldo-post1571075.html