Martinez Lauds Ronaldo and Diogo Costa: Celebrates ‘Game of My Life’ After Thrilling Shootout Victory

Cristiano Ronaldo redeemed himself after fluffing an early penalty, while Diogo Costa shone bright in the shootout, ensuring Portugal narrowly dodged defeat.

Roberto Martinez lauded Cristiano Ronaldo’s resilience and Diogo Costa’s crucial role in penalties after Portugal inched into the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.

They faced a formidable challenge from Slovenia, who held their ground for a solid 120 minutes at Frankfurt Arena, largely due to Jan Oblak’s goalkeeping prowess.

Atletico Madrid’s Oblak thwarted Ronaldo with a saved penalty in extra time’s initial half. Still, Ronaldo was spot-on during the ensuing shootout, where Costa played a pivotal role.

Porto’s keeper, Costa, denied Benjamin Sesko during extra time’s latter half and blocked all three Slovenian attempts by Josip Ilicic, Jure Balkovec, and Benjamin Verbic.

Martinez had high praise for the duo’s endeavors.

Martinez shared with EURO2024.com, “Ronaldo’s miss followed by his crucial start in the shootout set the tone.”

“This win was about unity, stemming right from the locker room with Cristiano leading as our captain. He demonstrated how to persist through the lows of life and football,” he added.

Martinez expressed, “Our team unity, energy, and passion were key to turning a challenging game around.”

Concerning Costa, Martinez remarked, “Portugal’s well-kept secret is Diogo Costa, a gem in Europe’s football scene.”

“Today he was exceptional, especially in his one-on-one with Sesko, followed by his focused, successive saves in the shootout. We’re immensely proud,” he added.

Costa set a record as the first goalie to save three penalties in a European Championship shootout.

Reflecting on his performance, Costa said, “This might be the game of my life. I relied on instinct. We studied the kickers, though they often switch techniques.”

“I’m thrilled to have contributed significantly. In games like this, where I barely touched the ball, persistence was key,” Costa added.

“We rallied behind Cristiano after his initial miss. Our belief was unwavering till the end, and it’s paid off immensely,” he concluded.