Cristiano Ronaldo removes cola bottles at Euro presser, endorses water – WATCH

Reigning European champions Portugal are all set to start the defense of their title at UEFA Euro 2020, when they take on Hungary in their tournament opener on Tuesday. Ahead of the match, all the focus is on Portuguese captain and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who is chasing the record to become the highest international goal scorer and needs 6 more strikes to surpass Iran’s Ali Daei.

Ahead of the match, Ronaldo accompanied Portugal coach Fernando Santos to the pre-match press conference. Ronaldo wasn’t pleased with the fact that two cola bottles were kept in front of him.

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In a video that is doing the rounds on social media, Ronaldo can be seen removing the cola bottles belonging to a global cola company which is also one of the sponsors of the tournament. He then raises a bottle of water and says ‘Agua’, which is the Portuguese for water.

While social media users are lapping up the video, there seems to be a message behind Ronaldo’s actions as he is clearly endorsing water over cola. It remains to be seen if there is any response from UEFA on the matter.

Ronaldo has scored 104 goals for Portugal and is 5 behind Ali Daei’s record of 109 goals.

Ahead of the Portugal vs Hungary match, Ronaldo wrote a long post on his Facebook page, where he said that the team can feel the support of its fans and that he and his teammates will give it their all.

“5 years ago we surprised Europe, winning for the first time a major international competition for Portugal. From this group of extraordinary players who wrote their name to gold letters in football history, there are only 11 left in this Euro 2020, but I know that all absentees are here with us too. Not only them, but millions of Portuguese spread throughout the world.

“We know you’re with the team, we feel your support, your shout and your belief! It’s for you that we enter the field, it’s for you that we sing the hymn, it’s for you that we fight for each point, for each victory and for each ball divided…

“As title champions, we know that our responsibilities increase, and with them increases our will, delivery and selflessness. Let’s leave everything on the field to elevate Portugal’s name high again!,” the translation of Ronaldo’s post read.

It must be remembered that Portugal played Hungary in the last match of their Euro 2016 group stage and needed a result to stay in contention to move into the next round. Ronaldo set-up a goal and scored a brace to help his team come back thrice in the match and earn a 3-3 draw which kept them in the competition, which they eventually went on to win.