29/09/2026
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo on his conversation with Bruno Fernandes when he was taken off against Wales:
🗣️ Cristiano Ronaldo: “When the fourth official put the board up and I saw my number, I knew my night was finished.
“I walked towards the touchline and Bruno was there. I took off the captain’s armband and went to hand it to him.
“The first thing he said was, ‘I know you deserve the goal. Maybe number 980 comes in the next match, but we can’t stop now.’
“I smiled at him and said, ‘Maybe.’
“And then I walked off.
“But that little moment meant something to me.
“Because Bruno understands what this shirt means to me. He knows I want to score every time I play for Portugal. He knows I don’t like leaving the pitch without scoring.
“But he also reminded me of something more important.
“Portugal cannot depend on one player.
“Not even me.
“When you are winning, you enjoy it together. When you are chasing a goal, you chase it together. And when Cristiano comes off, Bruno has to take the armband and continue the fight.
“I looked back at the pitch as I was walking to the bench and saw him organising the players.
“And I thought, ‘Good. Now it is your responsibility.’
“I have played with Bruno for many years now, and I know how much he cares about Portugal.
“He wants to win as badly as I do.
“So yes, I wanted number 980.
“I still want it.
“But maybe Bruno was right.
“Maybe the next one comes in the next match.
For tonight, the captain’s armband was going to him. The responsibility was going to him. And the fight was going to continue without me.”
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