"In the tunnel, I saw him and was just like, 'wow'" - PL star details experience of playing against Cristiano Ronaldo in international fixture
Premier League star Hakon Valdimarsson has detailed his experience of playing against Cristiano Ronaldo on international duty. The Brentford goalkeeper said that it was a nice moment for him to square it up with the Portuguese icon whom he declared his favorite player.
Hakon Valdimarsson faced Cristiano Ronaldo when Portugal and Iceland clashed in the qualifiers of the 2024 European Championship back in November last year. It was indeed a moment to remember for the goalkeeper because of two major reasons. First, the game saw him make his competitive debut for his national team. Second, he got to play against one of the greatest players in history - one whom he had idolized for many years.
Speaking to Brentford's official website, the 22-year-old recalled the moment met Cristiano Ronaldo in the tunnel prior to kick-off, saying:
"Before the game, in the tunnel, I saw him and was just like... 'wow'. I had been following this guy since I was a kid. He was my favourite player as I was growing up and it was a really nice moment for me to play against him - and, most importantly, not let him score!"
"In the game, I was in the zone and I forgot about the other things, but it was more after the game when my friends would text me and send me videos about the match," he added.
The goalkeeper also reflected on his debut, saying:
"Against Portugal, a full stadium here, we played really good as a team, I had a great game too, and I just want to continue doing that for my country. It's been fun to play for the national team and I try to enjoy the attention as much as possible."
Valdimarsson managed to keep Cristiano Ronaldo at bay throughout the encounter. However, Portugal managed to find solutions through other players as they bagged a 2-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Bruno Fernandes and Ricardo Horta.
What's next for Cristiano Ronaldo's career?
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner didn't have a good outing at the Euros this summer. He didn't score a single goal in five games and failed to help his side prevent a quarter-final exit at the hands of France on penalties. It was his last appearance at the tournament.
Following that setback, Ronaldo will now look to bounce back with Al Nassr next term. He is currently on a holiday and will soon return to the side for pre-season. The Saudi giants are scheduled to face FC Porto and Luisitano 1911 on July 28 and July 30 respectively. They will then horns with Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final on August 14.
The 39-year-old stood out with his performances last season where he bagged 44 goals and 13 assists in 45 games across all competitions. However, he couldn't help the team win a single trophy and will look to change it this time around.