Premier League star Hakon Valdimarsson recently shared his experience of playing against Cristiano Ronaldo during international duty. The Brentford goalkeeper described the encounter as a significant moment, highlighting Ronaldo as his favourite player.
Valdimarsson faced Ronaldo when Iceland played against Portugal in the 2024 Euro qualifiers last November. The match was particularly memorable for Valdimarsson for two reasons: it marked his competitive debut for the national team and he had the opportunity to compete against one of the greatest players he had long admired.
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Speaking to Brentford’s official website, the 22-year-old recalled the moment he met Cristiano Ronaldo in the tunnel prior to kick-off.
Valdimarsson said, “Before the game, in the tunnel, I saw him and was just like… ‘wow’. I had been following this guy since I was a kid. He was my favourite player as I was growing up and it was a really nice moment for me to play against him – and, most importantly, not let him score!”
“In the game, I was in the zone and I forgot about the other things, but it was more after the game when my friends would text me and send me videos about the match,” he added.
Hakon Valdimarsson denied Cristiano Ronaldo any chance to net a goal
Valdimarsson successfully contained Cristiano Ronaldo during the match, but Portugal found other ways to secure a 2-0 win. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Ricardo Horta ensured their victory.
Ronaldo’s latest international appearance came during the Euro 2024 this summer. However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner didn’t have a good outing, failing to score a single goal in five games and couldn’t help to help his side prevent a quarter-final exit at the hands of France on penalties. It was his last appearance at the tournament.