Slovenia beat Portugal 2-0 thanks to goals from Adam Cerin and Timi Elsnik and Cristiano Ronaldo was furious with the result as he stormed down the tunnel.
Goals from Adam Cerin and Timi Elsnik earned Slovenia a stunning win. On the other hand, it handed Roberto Martinez his first defeat since taking charge of Portugal last year. Ronaldo missed Portugal’s previous game against Sweden, having been given time off by Martinez to go on holiday.
Ronaldo did return to the starting line-up against Slovenia, but failed to make much of an impact. As a result, the 39-year-old was seen storming off down the tunnel after the game while gesturing angrily.
It comes after Portugal defender Joao Cancelo suggested Ronaldo was past his prime and that the “national team does not depend entirely on him”.
Cancelo said: “He is an important player and spent 15 years competing with Messi for the Ballon d’Or. But the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32”.
“He is an important player for us. But the national team does not depend entirely on him.”
“For me, Portugal is one of the contenders for this summer’s European Championships,” Leboeuf said.
“I actually think they can win the Euros, but only if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t play. You cannot take away anything that Ronaldo has done for football just because he has gone to retire in the Saudi League”.
“I want to thank him for taking the sport to another level, but there is an end for everyone. He has every right to play in Saudi Arabia, although I’m not sure he needed even more money! It annoys me when I hear Cristiano Ronaldo saying that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1.
“Why do you think he chose to make that comment about Ligue 1 rather than the Portuguese League? It’s because Lionel Messi played in Ligue 1. I have lots of respect for him as a player but come on, just shut up! It is unfair to Ligue 1.”