Praise was heaped on Diogo Dalot after the Manchester United full-back attempted to calm Cristiano Ronaldo down as he cried after missing a penalty against Slovenia.
Ronaldo remains yet to score a goal outside of a penalty shootout at Euro 2024 and was given a golden chance to change his fortunes late in extra time on Monday.
The 39-year-old had desperately been trying to find the back of the net all game, blasting free-kicks from range off target and being denied by Oblak on several occasions in open play.
Ronaldo then confidently stepped up to score what would have been the winning penalty for Portugal after Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was brought down in the box.
An astonishing record prior to Oblak’s save had seen Ronaldo miss only 29 of his 192 career penalties, with his latest effort marking his first since being denied in Man United‘s FA Cup penalty shootout against Middlesbrough in 2022.
Praise was heaped on Diogo Dalot after the Manchester United full-back attempted to calm Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo was left in tears after his penalty miss against Slovenia in extra time of the Euro 2024 knockout clash
Ronaldo watched on in agony as Jan Oblak produced a brilliant save to deny him from 12-yards
It was all too much for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner who previously won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 as Ronaldo broke down in tears on the pitch.
The emotions generated by the missed penalty saw Ronaldo unable to stop crying as the squad huddled for a team-talk and several players were forced to rally around him.
Dalot – who shares a close friendship with Ronaldo – pulled the superstar striker aside, grabbing him around the head and echoing words of comfort in his ear.
The attempts appeared to work as Ronaldo calmed down and composed himself for the second half of extra time that ended goalless before Portugal won the subsequent penalty shootout.
Manchester City legend Micah Richards heaped praise on Dalot for his comforting attempt, telling the BBC: ‘ Dalot. Dalot there. Shows his passion for the game there . He’s absolutely devastated but he’s got a chance to put it right.’
Ronaldo was later reprieved as he scored Portugal’s first goal during the penalty shootout
Dalot and Ronaldo later embraced again at full-time following Portugal’s win over Slovenia
Meanwhile, Man United fans raved on social media at the display of friendship shown by Dalot, with one post on X stating: ‘Diogo Dalot is an absolute GEM.’
Another similarly added: ‘Dalot was in Cristiano Ronaldo’s corner after his penalty miss,’ alongside a love heart emoji.
A third comment stated on social media: ‘Dalot rallies behind Ronaldo after he misses the penalty.’
Ronaldo later beamed at the end of the game as Portugal won the penalty shootout and set up a Euro 2024 quarter-final clash against France.
