After falling victim to Chile in the semi-finals on Wednesday, Portugal's national team would have to fight for consolation in Sunday's FIFA Confederations Cup Third-Place final without the services of captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid star who was placed at #5 in the penalty shootouts ended up not taking any spotkick as Quaresma, Moutinho and Nani all had their efforts remarkably saved by the hero of the night, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Shortly after the fiasco, the reigning La Liga and Duodecima winner took to Facebook to make a stunning announcement: firstly, he confirmed the rumors that kids have been born to him. Secondly, he declared his departure from the Portuguese camp.
Ronaldo's message, written in Portuguese only, reads as follows:
"I was at the service of the National Team, as always, with my body and soul, despite knowing that my two kids were born.
"Unfortunately, we have not been able to achieve the main sporting objective which we had set but I am sure that we will continue to give joy to the Portuguese people.
"The President of the Portuguese Football Federation as well as the National Team's coach granted me a gesture that touches me and that I will never forget.
"I'm very happy to finally be able to be with my kids for the first time."
Cristiano Ronaldo's newborn babies are believed to be twins called Eva and Mateo. According to English news source The Sun as well as Portuguese media SIC Noticias, they were born to a surrogate mom on June 8 in the United States of America. By then, Ronaldo was leading his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and gearing up for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He also had to miss the 7th birthday of his first son, Cristiano Ronaldo Junior, on June 17.
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