DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo narrowly avoided being hit by a fan who jumped from the crowd to get close to the soccer star when Portugal played Georgia at the European Championship on Wednesday.
A video widely circulated on social media shows someone leaping over the top of the players’ tunnel at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen as Ronaldo headed to the locker room.
A safety steward rushed to shield the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star and other security staff raced toward the fan, who fell away out of sight.
A bemused-looking Ronaldo stopped, but appeared to be unharmed. Portugal lost the game 2-0.
Portugal’s Football Federation confirmed the incident, but did not comment. European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it was aware of the incident.
Gelsenkirchen police said the matter was not part of its responsibility.
Ronaldo is one of the most famous sporting icons in the world with a massive fan base, which includes 632 million followers on Instagram and nearly 112 million on X.
During Portugal’s previous match against Turkey in Dortmund on Saturday he was confronted on the field by four supporters who wanted selfies.
Ronaldo posed for one with a young fan who evaded stewards to get on the field in the 69th minute, but looked frustrated when approached by more fans later in the game and after the final whistle.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez coach said after that game that the Al Nassr forward was fortunate not to have been harmed and raised concerns over his security.
“We all love a fan that recognizes the big stars and the big icons in their minds,” he said. “But you can understand it was a very, very difficult moment — if those intentions are wrong, the players are exposed and we need to be careful with that.”
UEFA have said safety and security in the stadium is the “ultimate priority” and that additional safety measures would be deployed to prevent selfie-seeking fans from entering the field.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo is widely-regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time alongside Lionel Messi, Pele and Diego Maradona.
He has won the Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world on five occasions and is a six-time Champions League winner.
He now plays for Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr and reportedly earns up to $200 million a year.
Ronaldo is the first player to appear at six European Championships and while he is yet to score at this year’s tournament, he holds the record for the most goals at the Euros with 14.
He could also become the oldest player to score at a Euros - surpassing Luka Modric, who set a record with his goal for Croatia against Italy on Tuesday at the age of 38 years and 289 days.
Despite the shock loss to Georgia, Portugal advanced to the knockout phase of Euro 2024 and will play Slovenia in the round of 16 in Frankfurt on Monday.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo gestures as he leaves the pitch at half time during a Group F match between Georgia and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) Diogo Dalot (5) and Portugal's Ruben Neves (18) walk off the pitch after a Group F match between Georgia and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the pitch at the end of a Group F match between Georgia and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A boy crosses the barriers as Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, rear second right, leaves the pitch at the end of a Group F match between Georgia and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Lautaro Martínez scored twice and Argentina, playing without the injured Lionel Messi, wrapped up Copa America group play with a 2-0 win over Peru on Saturday night.
A nicely placed through ball from Ángel Di María led to Martínez's goal in the 46th minute. Martínez was embraced by teammates afterward, then went to hug Messi, who was standing near Argentina's bench.
Martínez doubled Argentina’s lead in the 86th minute and now has a tournament-leading four goals.
Messi did not play Saturday as he nurses a leg injury suffered in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile on Tuesday that clinched a quarterfinal berth for the defending champions. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also absent after being suspended because of his team’s late second-half return to the pitch in its previous two Copa matches.
Saturday, the Albiceleste walked out for the second half just a few seconds before Peru.
Playing with nine changes to its starting lineup, Argentina controlled possession (74%) for the third straight match and had six shots on goal, while being held scoreless in the first half for the third straight match.
The game was played in front of about 64,000 fans at the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium, which will also host the final on July 14. Most fans cheered for Argentina while wearing different versions of Messi's No. 10 jersey.
Canada played Chile to a scoreless draw in another Group A match on Saturday in Orlando, Florida, to also advance to the quarterfinal round.
Argentina will learn its knockout stage opponent when Group B finishes on Sunday. Group leader Venezuela plays Jamaica at Austin, Texas, and second-place Ecuador plays Mexico at Glendale, Arizona.
Nicolás Tagliafico appeared to score for Argentina in the 55th minute after tapping in the ball at the back post, but the officials ruled that goaltender Pedro Gallese, who made four saves, was blocked and the goal was waived off.
Argentina had another chance when the team was awarded a penalty after a handball in the box by Jesús Castillo. Leandro Paredes blasted the ball into the right post, and the score remained 1-0.
Goaltender Emiliano Martínez made one save.
Peru was held without a goal for the third ga.me of the tournament and has no goals in 11 of its last 14 matches. Peru played a scoreless draw against Chile in its Copa America opener, then lost 1-0 to Canada. The team reached the semifinals in 2021 before losing to Brazil.
AP Copa America coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-america
Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, and Rodrigo De Paul, right, sit on the bench during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, and Rodrigo De Paul wave to fans during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's Lautaro Martínez (22) scores his side's second goal against Peru during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's Lautaro Martínez (22) celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Peru with teammates during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's Lautaro Martínez (22) celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Peru with teammate Angel Di Maria during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's Lautaro Martínez, center, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Peru teammates during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's Angel Di Maria (11) and Peru's Alexander Callens battle for the ball during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Argentina's Lionel Messi stands on the bench during a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Argentina's Lautaro Martínez celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Peru during a Copa America Group A soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
