Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about a light-hearted moment with Portugal's rising star, Geovany Quenda, during their first interaction on international duty.
The 17-year-old Sporting forward, who has just received his first call-up under Roberto Martinez, was reportedly "embarrassed" to meet his idol.
Quenda, with limited senior experience, is already being hailed as one of Portugal’s brightest talents. Despite the pressure of following in Ronaldo’s footsteps, the young player has quickly caught the attention of many.
Ronaldo, now 39, shared how he approached Quenda: "Many of them are embarrassed to talk to me! A little while ago I was going up to my room and I saw the new boy, 17 years old, Quenda. I went to him and said: 'So, have you recovered from the game?'. I saw that he was embarrassed. I don't say I'm a father, but an older brother."
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Ronaldo denies ‘Father Figure’ role
When asked if he plays a fatherly role to the younger squad members, Ronaldo downplayed the idea, saying, “I don’t say I’m a father, but an older brother.”
He explained that the national team is like a family, adding, “Many of them are embarrassed to talk to me… but my role is to help those who come in.”
With 212 caps and 130 goals for his country, Ronaldo remains focused on helping Portugal succeed in the Nations League and beyond.
As he looks toward the 2026 World Cup, retirement is far from his mind, as the football legend continues to inspire the next generation of Portuguese stars.
