Bellamy recalls Lisbon airport lockdown as Ronaldo arrived, calls him 'beyond a superstar'
September 24, 2026 01:10
Craig Bellamy has recalled a moment on a pre-season trip to Lisbon, when he says the capital's airport was effectively put into lockdown as Cristiano Ronaldo arrived. Bellamy — then an assistant to Vincent Kompany at Burnley — described rows of police, cars and a halted terminal while his team waited on a coach.
Bellamy said a car pulled up, someone took a rucksack from the boot and Ronaldo emerged, walking on his own with police around him. "Even the police were taking pictures. No-one could bother him," Bellamy added, describing the scene as "like presidents stuff." He concluded: "The reason I'm telling the story is because that's how big this guy is... He is beyond a superstar."
KEY CONTEXT
Bellamy last shared a pitch with Ronaldo in October 2008, when the forward scored twice for Manchester United in a 2-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford. Ronaldo has made 233 appearances for Portugal. During the summer, Ronaldo confirmed the 2026 World Cup would be his last, though he has not given a specific retirement date.
Bellamy also commented on Ronaldo's professionalism and longevity, saying he was "not surprised he is still playing with the professionalism he has shown" and praising how the forward manages his energy and habit of goal-scoring.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Bellamy is now preparing to manage Wales against Portugal as they kick-start their Nations League A campaign in Portugal on Thursday night at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.