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DUBLIN – Following Ireland’s 0-0 draw with Portugal in the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday night, Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo came to the aid of a 11-year-old girl desperate to meet her hero.
After the final whistle at the game, Addison Whelan jumped the barrier at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and sprinted towards Cristiano after dodging two security guards.
The Manchester United striker instructed the security guards to stand down before having a chat with Addison − who plays for Shelbourne’s Under-13s − and handing her his jersey.
The youngster recalled her unlikely interaction with Cristiano when she spoke on RTE Radio 1’s Morning Ireland on Friday, according to a report by the Mirror.
“I jumped over the barrier because I was in the second row. I jumped over the first row and over the barrier,” explained Addison.
“Then I sprinted on to the pitch, but there were security guards running behind me and there was another two coming from the other corner so I just kept sprinting.
“When I saw the other two coming from the other corner, I ran more towards the halfway line so then I could swerve around them, but then they caught me.
“Then, I was just screaming (Cristiano) Ronaldo’s name. He turned around and he saw me, and he was telling them to leave me.
“So then, I was calling him over. He came over to me. I was just in shock and crying and I was like ‘Can I have your jersey? Please, please. I’m a big, huge fan’. He was saying ‘Are you okay?’”
Addison was escorted off the pitch after Cristiano checked up on the young girl and handed her his jersey.
“When my dad saw him taking off the shirt, my dad’s face was just in shock,” added Addison.
“I was like ‘Oh my God, this is it, this is my dream, it’s finally coming true’. That was probably his last time playing in Ireland.
“He (Cristiano) said I appreciate that and everything.”
Ireland managed to contain Cristiano on Thursday night as the Boys in Green played out their penultimate World Cup qualifying match. – Agencies, November 14, 2021