Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes Cristiano Ronaldo might eventually regret the pass to assist Bruno Fernandes in Portugal's 3-0 win over Turkiye in the Euro 2024 group stages. The Al Nassr star gave Bruno a selfless pass, with just the goalkeeper to beat for his side's third and final goal of the game.
Speaking on Reach's new Euro Thrash podcast, Brown stated that Ronaldo's face showed that he regretted the pass immediately. He was quick to add, however, that the Portuguese had always strived for excellence and thus this feeling wouldn't come from a bad place.
"I'm looking at his face afterwards and he was thinking 'I could have just slotted that past the keeper', but that is Ronnie, that is what he has always strived for. In his mind, he will have been thinking 'I should have scored there'. It's nothing personal, he is that guy who wants to be top of the charts everywhere and that is why he has been so good for so many years," Brown said.
He added:
"He has looked good, really confident and back to himself. You can see he is still trying to give it all. Sometimes I think him and Bruno both like the ball, so you wonder what is going to happen, but everyone seems to be jolly and nice and he's fitting in well."
Portugal will face Georgia in their final group-stage match of Euro 2024 on Wednesday, June 25, and have already qualified for the last-16.
Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate on England's performance at Euro 2024
West Brown went on to talk about England at Euro 2024 so far, stating that it was normal to feel pressure in football. He believes that the players need to believe that they can win the tournament.
Brown, Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate at Manchester United, said in the aforementioned conversation:
"I don't think we make it any easier for the lads but that is part and parcel of football. I think that we all understand that as footballers. It is those who deal with that best who normally win. We have put a lot of pressure on the lads in this tournament, everybody has fully expected us to win with the players that we have got."
If they manage to top Group F, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will face the best third-placed side from Group A, B or C in the Round of 16.