Nati stars can send Ronaldo into a World Cup pension

1/12

On Tuesday, the Nati stars can send their great role model Cristiano Ronaldo (right) into a World Cup pension.

Almost 90,000 fans are sitting in Doha’s Lusail Stadium on Tuesday evening when the Nati meet Portugal in the World Cup round of 16. Many come to see Cristiano Ronaldo (37) on his last big mission. The world title is the only trophy missing from the superstar.

He has 500 million followers on Instagram and has been the great idol of millions of children and young people around the world for almost 20 years. It was also for many of our national stars who can send him into World Cup pension today.

Seferovic had Ronaldo posters in the children’s room

In 2009, when the Swiss national team sensationally secured the U17 world championship title, the parents of the then 17-year-old Haris Seferovic opened the door to his children’s room in Sursee for Blick. A poster of his great idol in a Manchester United shirt hangs on the wall. Mommy and Daddy Seferovic also show a letter that Seferovic wrote to the Swiss Football Association when he was 14. In it he makes a promise: “I want to be a professional footballer. By working on myself. Do my best in every practice session and game and play fair. And always stay down to earth. I don’t take drugs, alcohol and don’t smoke.” As an illustration, teenager Seferovic glued Ronaldo’s Panini picture from the 2004 European Championship to it.

Xhaka: “I was often asked if I was his brother…”

When Blick first met today’s national team captain Granit Xhaka in October 2009, he called Cristiano Ronaldo his great role model. “I just like how he handles the ball.” In 2010, Blick wrote about the FCB super talent: «At least visually, Xhaka comes pretty close to his role model. You don’t have to be a prophet to guess who Granit is emulating. Brilli on the ear, gel hairstyle – slightly tanned complexion. » Teenager Xhaka reveals: “I’ve often been asked about my resemblance to Ronaldo and asked if I’m his brother. He’s my role model in terms of football, but not as a person.”

Ronaldo not only shaped our generation of U17 world champions like Seferovic, Xhaka, Ricardo Rodriguez, who are all 30 now. The young wild ones like Noah Okafor (22) and Ruben Vargas (24) emulate the five-time world footballer. Okafor says: «He has a great style of play, a great charisma and attitude to the game. If you live football like this and bring some talent with you, you will be successful.” And as a boy, Vargas watched Ronaldo’s YouTube videos multiple times, he says. “When I was little, my role model was Cristiano Ronaldo, he’s a headball monster.”

In this luxury district, Switzerland plays the round of 16

15 years ago it was just desert: In this district, Switzerland plays the round of 16(02:23)

Elvedi: «Ronaldo was always very popular with me as a Panini picture»

Defender Nico Elvedi (26) also admired Ronaldo. “When I collected Panini pictures, Ronaldo was always very popular with me – an exceptional player.” And the Portuguese was also very popular with the young Christian Fassnacht and the young Manuel Akanji.

On Tuesday they have the unique opportunity to send their youth idol into World Cup pension. Because Qatar is his fifth (!) and last World Cup. In Portugal, the national hero is no longer undisputed. His performance so far has been underwhelming. “If Portugal played without Ronaldo, it could be more difficult for the Nati,” says Hakan Yakin. Nati coach Murat’s brother explains: “If he plays, everything focuses on him. Without him, the Portuguese are more unpredictable.”

Will the national team break the Ronaldo curse?

The statistics of this century say otherwise: although the Nati have won three of the six games against Portugal since 2008, Ronaldo has not played in any of those games. The three games against Portugal with Ronaldo were all lost. Goal ratio: 1:9. “CR7” himself contributed five goals.

And also at club level, the Swiss made one or the other negative experience. For example Fabian Schär. Although he once took a 1-0 lead with La Coruña in Madrid, it was 7-1 at the end. Two goals by Ronaldo, who was bleeding after a collision with Schär – a scratch on his head.

If the Nati defeat the Ronaldo curse today and qualify for the quarter-finals, millions of CR7 fans will cry. Last but not least, Ronaldo himself. It would be the last World Cup game for the former great role model of our Nati stars. Seferovic, Xhaka & Co. would not mind.