It has not been a EUROs to remember thus far for Cristiano Ronaldo, despite Portugal's progression to the last 16.
Portugal secured top spot in Group F with a game to spare thanks to their 3-0 win over Turkey, a game in which Ronaldo unselfishly set up a goal for his former Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes.
However, bar that isolated incident, Ronaldo has struggled to match the level of his Portuguese teammates, and he had yet another poor showing in Wednesday's shock defeat to Georgia.
With most of the starting lineup rested for the game in Gelsenkirchen, it was noteworthy that Ronaldo was once again named to start by Roberto Martinez.
His most notable contribution to the game, however, was to be booked for his vehement protestations after a penalty appeal was turned down in the first half.
Ronaldo was furious as he was subbed off early, kicking a water bottle on the touchline - though he was to have a far more frightening incident at full-time, as a fan launched himself from the stands and narrowly avoided a scary collision with the 39-year-old.
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Cristiano Ronaldo has a near-miss with fan who launched himself from stands
Video footage from the stands showed a furious Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the pitch after Portugal's shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Georgia in Gelsenkirchen.
As the Al Nassr striker made his way down the tunnel, a fan lept from the stands above and threw himself in the direction of Ronaldo.
A steward quickly spotted the fan falling towards the Portugal captain and held Ronaldo back, preventing the fan from colliding with him.
🚨🥴A fan almost jumps on the Cristiano Ronaldo from the stands after the end of the match!!! 😨
Sometimes some people are just not okay…🤦♂️pic.twitter.com/LSwEShvDb1— SimplyGoal (@SimplyGoal) June 27, 2024
Ronaldo was visibly angry after the incident, gesticulating towards the fan who had thrown himself at him.
Georgia's 2-0 win on Wednesday night secured them a historic place in the last 16 at their first-ever major football tournament. They will face Spain on Sunday evening in Cologne.
Meanwhile, Portugal will face Slovenia in Frankfurt on Monday evening.
The major question ahead of that game is whether they would be better off without Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup, with the veteran misfiring thus far at the EUROs and a wealth of attacking talent at the disposal of manager Roberto Martinez.
However, with the antics that we have seen Ronaldo pull in the past when dropped from the team, it may be a case that Martinez sees his ageing star as undroppable.
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