Khvicha Kvaratskhelia eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo as Georgia clinched a spot in the last 16 at Euro 2024, thrashing Portugal.
Following a pre-game pep talk from Ronaldo himself, Kvaratskhelia netted a goal that propelled Georgia into the history books with a resounding win on Wednesday.
Newcomers to major tournaments, Georgia punched above their weight, advancing as one of the top third-place teams. Kvaratskhelia ignited the scoreboard just after kick-off while Georges Mikautadze sealed the deal with a penalty.
The team’s next adversary is Spain, marking a stellar debut similar to Iceland’s performance in Euro 2016.
Post-match, Kvaratskhelia, the dazzling Napoli winger, mentioned that outplaying his idol added a surreal layer to the triumph.
“Securing Ronaldo’s jersey and progressing further felt surreal,” he recounted to the press.
In Georgian fans’ eyes, this day was monumental. “It’s a historic day. We stepped up and showed our mettle,” he added.
Before the match, Ronaldo’s unexpected encouragement boosted Kvaratskhelia’s resolve. “His words fueled my confidence,” he admitted.
About Ronaldo, he shared, “His greatness transcends the field. He’s a stellar player and an equally commendable man, something I deeply honor.”
“Ronaldo’s pre-game words motivated us tremendously; they bolstered our belief in pulling off the unexpected today.”
Recording a swift goal at one minute and 32 seconds, Kvaratskhelia’s shot not only set a record for Georgia but also marked the quickset goal Portugal has ever conceded in the Euros.
While Kvaratskhelia shone brightly in Gelsenkirchen, Ronaldo had a rough match, failing to convert any of his shots into goals.
This marks the first occasion Ronaldo didn’t score during the group stage of any major tournament in his long career, spanning eleven such tournaments.
His previous group-stage appearances include scoring in World Cups from 2006 through 2022 as well as in every Euro tournament from 2004 until 2020.
