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Cristiano Ronaldo promised Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai that he would get his jersey after the game between Portugal and Hungary in Lisbon next month, after the pair met in Budapest.
Szoboszlai gave Ronaldo his shirt after Portugal's 3-2 victory in World Cup qualifying, but the former Real Madrid star had already given his to someone else. The players will face each other again in October.
Portugal won the game thanks to a late goal from Joao Cancelo. Hungary had leveled through Barnabas Varga only a couple of minutes before the former Manchester City full-back netted the winner, with Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva also on the scoresheet.
Before the game, a picture of Szoboszlai lining up as a Hungary mascot in 2009 went viral on social media. He was eight years old at the time, with Ronaldo lining up for the opposition at the same age Szoboszlai is now (24).
Sixteen years on, Szoboszlai and Ronaldo were the two captains at the Puskas Arena. The Hungarian has often cited the Portugal star as an idol growing up.
"I’ve played against great players but never him," Szoboszlai said ahead of the match. "From my childhood, he’s been my idol. Finally, the time has come."
Szoboszlai has been playing at right-back for Liverpool lately and could continue there against Burnley at the weekend when the Premier League resumes.
He tends to play an all-action, roaming role for Hungary, but was deployed as a defensive midfielder last week against Ireland when Roland Sallai was sent off shortly after half-time.
"Dominik Szoboszlai’s defensive play was positive," manager Marco Rossi said. "After the sending off, we switched to a 5-3-1, so we could no longer put pressure on the opponent.
"He can play in any position, as he has proven in the Premier League. But we think he can be one of the best in the world in the number six, defensive midfield position."
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Szoboszlai is likely to feature in all three matches for Liverpool in a big week to come. After taking on Burnley, the Reds will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and then host Everton at Anfield in the season's first Merseyside derby.
Liverpool.com says: Szoboszlai has had an excellent start to the new season. He can play in so many different positions and his energy and pressing ability are always going to be welcome attributes no matter where he is deployed.
Moving forward, even with Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister to fit into things alongside Ryan Gravenberch, Szoboszlai will have a role to play somewhere. He is very highly valued by Arne Slot, and rightly so.
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