"How can you bring an entire airport to a standstill?" Vincent Kompany acquaintance reveals anecdote about state of emergency because of Cristiano Ronaldo
Wales manager Craig Bellamy revealed a surprising anecdote about Cristiano Ronaldo at Lisbon airport during a press conference ahead of the Nations League clash against Portugal.
The 47-year-old recalled an incident from his spell as assistant to current Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany at Burnley. On a pre-season trip to the Portuguese capital, Bellamy watched from the team bus as the airport was completely sealed off amid huge security measures.
At first, the players and staff feared there had been a serious security incident. A little later, though, it emerged that the police presence and barriers were there solely to protect Cristiano Ronaldo.
"When we arrived at the airport, the police were everywhere. The airport was completely locked down," said Bellamy. "We had come from Burnley and were treated a bit like VIPs. We were sitting in a coach we had hired, but still had to take a certain route to the airport."
Bellamy added: "There were lines of police officers and police cars everywhere. We thought: Something has happened, there must be an alert here. Everything was sealed off. The people in the terminal, just everything. We couldn't get off the bus and had to wait - we thought it was a security breach or something like that."
Burnley left waiting as Cristiano Ronaldo strolls through sealed-off airport
After about 15 minutes, the people on the bus finally understood what was going on. "We were stuck on the bus for 10, 15 minutes and suddenly this car appeared. It parked, a man got out, went to the boot, took out a rucksack. Then someone else got out and slung the rucksack over his shoulder - and who was it? Ronaldo."
Bellamy said: "He's walking all alone, there's police everywhere, and Lisbon airport is sealed off. Even the police officers were taking photos. Nobody could disturb him."
That moment stuck with the Burnley squad. "That was the coolest walk I have ever watched for a minute. We were all sitting on the bus and were speechless. Everyone who had been complaining beforehand immediately shut up. It was like a president," said the Welshman. "How can you shut down an entire airport? I wouldn't even get my computer through customs at Cardiff airport. What had I just seen? I'm telling this story because this guy is just so huge. It was just wow. I'm so glad I experienced this moment, because he is more than just a superstar."
How many international caps has Cristiano Ronaldo made for Portugal?
Bellamy and Ronaldo last faced each other on the pitch during their playing careers in October 2008. Ronaldo scored twice for Manchester United in a 2-0 win over West Ham United, where Bellamy was under contract. On Thursday evening, the coach faced the now 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward again as he made his 234th international appearance and has been playing for the Selecao for 24 years. Portugal won the encounter 1-0, with Ronaldo missing a big chance.
Even at the advanced age of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Bellamy was barely surprised by the level he continues to produce. Ronaldo said in the summer that the 2026 World Cup would be his last major tournament. The exact timing of his retirement, however, remains unclear.
"It doesn't surprise me that he is still playing with the professionalism he has always shown," said Bellamy. "It's also down to how clever he is: he knows how to look after himself, he knows that he must not waste his energy at certain times and he still has that instinct for shooting at goal - and you never lose that. We are not just talking about one of the greatest players of our generation, but of all generations, when you consider everything he has achieved."
