CRISTIANO RONALDO was the first player to comfort Kevin De Bruyne after he was forced off with an injury during Belgium’s win over Portugal.
The Red Devils star had to will his side on from the substitute’s bench after suffering an ankle injury in the 48th minute.
And as De Bruyne, 29, looked down at his foot in anguish, Ronaldo put an arm around him and offered words of comfort.
It was a very compassionate act from CR7 considering his side were trailing 1-0 at the time.
And Ronaldo is notoriously competitive – Rio Ferdinand explained this week that the Juventus star will be asking him why Gary Lineker rates Lionel Messi above him, such is his desire to be the best.
But despite Ronaldo’s win-at-all-costs attitude, he often displays sympathy for injured opponents.
The last time Portugal were knocked out of a major tournament, in the Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo consoled Edinson Cavani.
The Manchester United forward scored twice against Portugal before picking up an injury, with Ronaldo helping him off the pitch.
He did the same in the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah was infamously fouled by Sergio Ramos and the collision led to the Egyptian badly injuring his shoulder.
The winger was unable to continue and Ronaldo, seeing Salah’s tears, immediately went to comfort his opposite number.
Ronaldo’s good-natured spirit against Belgium on Sunday did not go unnoticed by supporters on social media either.
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One football fan wrote: “Fair play.”
Another added: “Real ankles respect real.”
One perceptive Twitter user also remembered Ronaldo helping Cavani out and how that ended up. He said: “The last time he checked on Cavani and they were knocked out.”
Ronaldo will now be watching the rest of the tournament from home after Portugal were dumped out by Belgium.
The superstar, 36, struggled to have an impact on the game, as Portugal were thwarted by keeper Thibaut Courtois and some poor finishing.
Thorgan Hazard scored the only goal of the game to set up a quarter-final clash against Italy.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Fair Play
Cristiano Ronaldo was The First One to Console De Bruyne after his injury.
pic.twitter.com/1tt1n4UjEO
— AZR (@AzrOrganization) June 27, 2021
The last time he checked on Cavani and they were knocked out
— Prezzo (@langat_jr) June 27, 2021
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