Cristiano Ronaldo in tears as he misses crucial penalty – but makes amends in Portugal’s Euro 2024 shootout victory
Cristiano Ronaldo had to be consoled by his teammates as he burst into tears following his missed penalty for Portugal.
But he made amends when he fired home his spot-kick in the shootout victory over Slovenia as Portugal booked their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
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Roberto Martinez's side failed to break down Slovenia in normal time of the last 16 clash, resulting in the game going to extra-time.
But the Euro 2016 champions had the perfect chance to break the deadlock after Portugal were awarded a penalty just before the end of the first half of extra time.
However, Ronaldo had his effort brilliantly turned around the bottom right post by Jan Oblak.
It was sweet revenge for Oblak after Ronaldo scored the winning penalty for Real Madrid against rivals Atletico Madrid in the shootout of the 2016 Champions League final.
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And as the Portugal squad regrouped during half-time, the 39-year-old's emotions got the better of him as he failed to hold in his tears.
It led to his teammates to try and console him, with Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot pulling him away in an attempt to calm him down.
If Ronaldo had found the back of the net, he would have become the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history at the age of 39 years and 147 days.
That record currently belongs to his ex-Madrid teammate Luka Modric [38 years and 289 days], who made history for Croatia in their 1-1 draw with Italy in Group B.
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He would have also become the first man to score in six different Euros finals since his tournament debut at Euro 2004.
And he would have extended his record to 15 goals at the European Championship.
Portugal failed to have any more clear-cut chances in extra-time, with the tie going to a shootout, where they won 3-0 - thanks to goalkeeper Diogo Costa's heroics.
The Porto star expertly saved all three of Slovenia's efforts from Josip Ilicic, Jure Balkovec and Benjamin Verbic.
In doing so, he has become the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a European Championship shootout.
It was Ronaldo who got Portugal off the mark - hammering his effort beyond Oblak's outstretched fingertips into the bottom left corner.
He immediately raised his hands in apology to the Portugal fans behind the goal, with his missed effort still firmly in his mind.
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Bruno Fernandes then found the back of the net, with Bernardo Silva scoring the deciding penalty to send Portugal into the quarter-finals.
Portugal will now play France on Friday night for a place in the semi-finals.
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