‘I like it when they boo me!’ Cristiano Ronaldo finds playing in empty stadiums ‘boring’ amid Covid-19 pandemic as Juventus and Portugal star is named Player of the Century at Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai
Cristiano Ronaldo is finding playing in empty stadiums amid the Covid-19 pandemic ‘boring’ and is even missing fans booing him.
The Juventus and Portugal star, like every other top-level footballer, has become accustomed to playing in front of empty stands in 2020.
And the 35-year-old, who was named the Player of the Century at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday night, admitted he is craving not only the acclaim he receives from supporters but the abuse too.
Cristiano Ronaldo admitted he misses fans booing him with most matches being played out behind closed doors this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic
The Juventus and Portugal star was named Player of the Century at the Globe Soccer Awards
‘For me, I have to be honest, to play in an empty stadium is boring in my opinion,’ he said.
‘We, the players, respect all the protocol and health is the most important thing of all, of course, but I don’t like it to be honest.
‘I do it first of all because I love football. My passion is always football. I play for my family, my kids, my friends, the fans. But I don’t like it, to be honest, it’s so weird.
‘I like when people boo Cristiano. When I touch the ball they ‘boo’. I like it.
‘I hope in 2021 they can change the rules and we can see the stadiums full of people.’
Ronaldo has become accustomed to playing in front of empty stands during a tough 2020
Ronaldo has been racking up the personal accolades having won the Golden Foot last week
Ronaldo added yet another individual accolade to his collection when he beat Lionel Messi to the Player of the Century award.
It comes after he was given the Golden Foot award, first introduced in 2003, for players aged 28 or above that can only be won by a recipient only once in their career.
Although we are only 20 years into the 21st century, Ronaldo took the honour with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola named Coach of the Century.
Ronaldo’s former club Real Madrid won Club of the Century after winning five Champions League titles and seven La Liga crowns since 2000.
And the Portuguese star’s agent Jorge Mendes won the Agent of the Century award.