Tomorrow go be emotional day for Portugal. And for Ronaldo fans all over the world.
Tomorrow, Saturday, Portugal go play Denmark. But this no be normal match. This go be the first match Portugal go play WITHOUT Cristiano Ronaldo after he retired.
And Portugal no wan make am pass like say nothing happen. Dem wan honour their king.
PORTUGAL GO WEAR RONALDO'S NO. 7 SHIRT
According to reports, ALL Portugal players go wear Ronaldo's famous No. 7 shirt before the match tomorrow.
Yes, all of them. From goalkeeper to striker. Everybody go wear No. 7.
Normally, each player get him own number. Bernardo Silva na No. 10, Bruno Fernandes na No. 8. But tomorrow, before kick-off, dem go all wear No. 7 to show respect to Ronaldo.
Imagine you dey watch match, you see 11 players for pitch, all of them wear Ronaldo shirt. That picture go scatter internet.
Why No. 7? Because No. 7 na Ronaldo. For 23 years, Ronaldo don make that number holy for Portugal. When you hear "Portugal No. 7", na only one person you think — Ronaldo.
7TH MINUTE TRIBUTE - UEFA DON APPROVE AM
E no stop there.
UEFA don approve say the match go pause for the 7th minute to clap for Ronaldo.
For 7th minute, referee go stop game small, all players, coaches, and fans for stadium go stand up clap for Ronaldo for 1 minute.
Why 7th minute? Because of No. 7 again. Na Ronaldo number.
Fans for stadium go also hold placards with "Thank You CR7" and "Obrigado Ronaldo" — Obrigado mean Thank You for Portuguese.
Even if Ronaldo no dey stadium, he go feel the love from house.
RONALDO'S ROOM GO REMAIN EMPTY
This one go touch your heart.
Portugal camp don decide say Ronaldo's room for camp go remain empty for this match.
Nobody go sleep for that room. Nobody go use am. Dem go leave am empty as honour.
For 23 years, Ronaldo don sleep for that room before every match. He don prepare there, pray there, wear him jersey there. Now dem say, "No, make we leave am empty. That room na Ronaldo room."
That shows how much Portugal respect am.
WHY PORTUGAL DEY HONOUR AM LIKE THIS?
Many people dey ask, "Why all this honour? Ronaldo just retire na."
Make we remember wetin Ronaldo do for Portugal:
1. He played 234 games for Portugal. No African player, no European player don reach that number.
2. He scored 146 goals. Na world record for international football. Messi never reach am. Nobody don reach am.
3. He win Euro 2016 for Portugal. That was Portugal first ever major trophy. Before Ronaldo, Portugal never win anything.
4. He win Nations League for Portugal for 2019 and 2025.
5. He carry Portugal for World Cup 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022. For 20 years, Portugal no miss any big tournament because of Ronaldo.
So when Portugal say make we honour am, dem know wetin dem dey do. Ronaldo na Portugal history.
WHY DID RONALDO RETIRE?
Ronaldo announced his retirement on November 5, after wahala with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus.
For the game against Norway, coach bench Ronaldo. Ronaldo vex, leave camp, enter private jet go house. The Federation suspend am for 30 days and fine am 255 Euros.
After that wahala, Ronaldo decide to end his international career after 23 years.
E pain many fans. Some fans say coach no respect Ronaldo. Some say Ronaldo suppose respect coach. That debate still dey go on till today.
But tomorrow, Portugal wan show say even with wahala, dem still love Ronaldo.
CAN PORTUGAL WIN WITHOUT RONALDO?
This na the big question.
Portugal don win all their last 4 games without Ronaldo. Bernardo Silva go captain the team tomorrow. Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix — all of them dey in form.
But Denmark no be small team. Denmark go wan spoil the party. Dem go wan beat Portugal for their own honour day.
If Portugal win tomorrow, e go prove say Portugal fit survive without Ronaldo. If dem lose, fans go say "See, una need Ronaldo."
So tomorrow match no be just match. Na test.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Do you think say Portugal do well to honour Ronaldo like this? Or you think say dem suppose let am rest?
And if you be Ronaldo, you go watch the match tomorrow? Or e go pain you too much to watch?
Tell me for comments. I go reply everyone. And if you be Ronaldo fan, share this article to show love for CR7.
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