Former Chelsea Star and Manager Frank Lampard reveals reason he recently stayed away from Cristiano Ronaldo despite being in same hotel
Frank Lampard shared why he deliberately kept his distance from Cristiano Ronaldo during their recent holiday stay at the same hotel, despite the two football legends being in close proximity.
On Tuesday, Portugal, under the management of Roberto Martinez, made a dramatic comeback to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Group F, with Francisco Conceicao scoring a decisive goal in the 92nd minute. Ronaldo and his teammates had a tough time finding the net, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner missing several key chances.
Although Ronaldo’s performance in the opening match of Euro 2024 wasn’t remarkable, he still achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player to participate in six European Championships, having first appeared in the tournament in 2004.
Lampard, the former England and Chelsea star, confessed to the BBC that he kept his distance from Ronaldo during their holiday, likely out of a sense of self-consciousness. He humorously noted that a few months prior, he encountered Ronaldo and was cautious about spending too much time with him, even putting on a t-shirt for a photo because of Ronaldo’s “amazing” physique.
Lampard recounted, “I ran into him on vacation a few months back. We were at the same hotel on the beach, and luckily, his sunspot was a little further down from mine every day. I made a point to steer clear of him since he was in such incredible shape.”
Ronaldo had several missed opportunities in the match against the Czech Republic, underscoring Lampard’s point. Despite these misses, Ronaldo’s dedication to his fitness was evident. Lampard noted, “I saw him going to the gym with his personal trainer twice a day. It just shows his commitment to his profession.”
Lampard added a light-hearted anecdote: “As he walked back from the gym, I gave him a ripple of applause while I was sitting there, drinking a beer!” This story underscores the respect and admiration Lampard has for Ronaldo, both as a fellow professional and as a fitness icon.
