Frank Lampard explained why he kept his distance from Cristiano Ronaldo while they were on holiday at the same hotel.
On Tuesday, Francisco Conceicao scored a dramatic 92nd-minute winner, helping Roberto Martinez’s Portugal secure a 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic in Group F.
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During the match, Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates struggled to convert their chances, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner missing several key opportunities.
Despite a lackluster performance in their Euro 2024 opener, Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to compete in six European Championships, his first appearance dating back to 2004.
At 39, Ronaldo remains in remarkable shape. Lampard revealed on the BBC that he avoided Ronaldo on holiday, apparently due to feeling self-conscious about their physical differences.
The England and Chelsea legend, who stayed at the same hotel as Ronaldo a few months ago, joked that he mostly kept his distance and even wore a t-shirt when posing for a photo with the Al Nassr forward because of Ronaldo’s “incredible” physique.
Lampard said: “I bumped into him on holiday a few months ago, I was in the same hotel on the beach and fortunately his sunspot each day was a little down from me.
“I made sure to stay away from him because he was in incredible shape. So I gave him a little bit of distance.
“I pulled him over for a picture with my son because of the incredible player he’s been and I quickly put my t-shirt on and had a nice picture with him.
“I noticed he was going to the gym twice a day with his personal trainer. Just shows you his dedication to what he does.
“I was sipping a beer watching him and gave him a ripple of applause as he walked back!”
