"Time beat him. Time takes everybody out. It's undefeated," said Rocky Balboa in the film "Creed," and those words could easily be applied to Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who struggled to impose himself on the team's Euro 2024 last-16 game with Slovenia on Monday.
A tearful Ronaldo being embraced and comforted by team mates after missing a penalty in extra time that could have helped Portugal secure a spot in the quarterfinals before a shootout win is a cathartic image that stunned fans around the world.
Portugal won 3-0 on penalties minutes later, with Ronaldo converting the first spot kick and apologizing to fans in the stands immediately after scoring before breaking down in tears following the game and being unable to finish an interview.