Georgia hero, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, says a pre-match meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo helped inspire belief that his team could cause a historic upset against Portugal and qualify for the round of 16 of Euro 2024 on Wednesday
Georgia went on to win 2-0 against Euro 2016 winners Portugal at the Arena AufSchalke, with Kvaratskhelia opening the scoring after just 92 seconds and Georges Mikautadze, the tournament’s top scorer with three, adding the second via a penalty.
The victory set up a meeting with Spain as Georgia reached the knockout stages in their debut appearance in a major tournament, while Kvaratskhelia left with Ronaldo’s shirt.
“I got Ronaldo’s jersey and we’ve made it through to the next round,” said Kvaratskhelia, who labelled the Portugal No.7 his boyhood idol before the game, in a news conference via a translator.
“This is the best day in the lives of Georgian football fans. We’ve made history, no one would believe we’d make it happen.
“No one would believe we could beat Portugal but that’s why we’re a strong team; if there’s even a 1% chance, we’ve shown we can make it happen.
“Before the match there was a meeting [with Ronaldo] and he wished me success; I’d never imagine he would come and talk to me.
“He’s a great player and a great person. That’s why he’s a great personality in and out of football; I have so much respect for him, he’s one of the best players in the world.
“When he comes to talk to you before the match, that’s amazing; that helped us believe we could do something today.”
Kvaratskhelia, 23, has tasted success in club football, winning Italy’s Serie A with Napoli in 2023, but says writing history with his country was the best day of his life.