Craig Bellamy says Cristiano Ronaldo sparked Lisbon airport lockdown
Bellamy recounts airport shutdown
Wales boss Craig Bellamy has recalled watching Cristiano Ronaldo arrive in Lisbon under such heavy security that the Portuguese capital’s airport was effectively put into lockdown.
Bellamy was on a pre-season trip to Lisbon during his time as an assistant to manager Vincent Kompany at Burnley when the incident occurred. The Welshman said the airport was on lockdown with police everywhere.
"So we got to the airport and the police were everywhere. It was on lockdown," Bellamy said. "We're Burnley and we had a little bit of VIP. We were on a coach, we were chartered but still had to go into the airport a certain way."
"It was like rows of police with police cars everywhere. We thought, 'something has happened, there must be a warning here'. Everything was locked off. People in the terminal, you name it. We couldn't get off the coach and we had to wait for what we thought was a security breach or something."
After 10 to 15 minutes on the coach, a car pulled up and Ronaldo emerged.
"We are stuck on the coach for 10, 15 minutes and suddenly this car turns up, it parks and a guy walks out, goes in the boot, grabs a rucksack and someone else gets out and puts the rucksack on and who is it? Ronaldo."
Bellamy added: "He is walking on his own with police everywhere and Lisbon airport locked off. Even the police were taking pictures. No-one could bother him. It was the coolest walk I have ever watched for a minute."
"We were all on the coach and our jaws dropped. Everyone who had been moaning quickly shut up. It was like presidents stuff."
Ahead of Portugal clash
Bellamy last shared a pitch with Ronaldo in October 2008 when the Portuguese scored twice for Manchester United in a 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham United at Old Trafford.
He is now set to manage his country against the 233-cap international as Wales kick-start their Nations League A campaign in Portugal on Thursday night, 24 September, at Estádio José Alvalade.
With five Ballon d’Or wins, eight league titles, five Champions Leagues, a European Championship and a pair of Nations League triumphs among his honours, Bellamy said Ronaldo is "beyond a superstar".
"How can you lock off a whole airport? I would not be able to get my computer through customs in Cardiff airport. What have I just seen? The reason I'm telling the story is because that's how big this guy is. It was like, 'wow'. I'm so glad I saw that moment because he is beyond a superstar."
During the summer Ronaldo confirmed the 2026 World Cup would be his last, though the Al-Nassr frontman has not revealed when he will retire. Bellamy said he is not surprised Ronaldo is still operating at an elite level in his 24th year as a senior Portugal international.
"I'm not surprised he is still playing with the professionalism he has shown. It's also how clever he is, he knows how to protect himself, he knows not to waste his energy at certain times and he's still got the habit of goal-scoring, and you never lose that."
"We're talking about not just one of the greatest players of our generation, we're talking all generations with what he has been able to do. He's beyond a superstar."
Squad concerns for Wales
For all the spotlight on Ronaldo and his team-mates, Bellamy said his full focus must be on how Wales can leave Lisbon with a positive result. The head coach’s task has been made harder by absences including Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow, Nathan Broadhead, Dylan Lawlor, Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies.
"We have to be excited, but not too excited. We have worked hard to get into League A, so what can we do to stay in it? If we do then it will help us massively and that's the motivation."
"You want to be in these moments. I'm telling you, when your playing days finish, you won't remember Bury away and all that. These moments you will remember and will live with you. But you also want to remember how you performed. You don't want this to get too much. I want my players to go out and give everything. They should love every second of it. That's the drive for this."