Empty stadiums are like a circus without clowns: Ronaldo

Sorely missing the fans
Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the ground after being substituted during the game against Sweden in Stockholm on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Stockholm: Cristiano Ronaldo compared empty soccer stadium to a circus without clowns.

The Portugal great scored his 100th and 101st goals for his country in a 2-0 win over Sweden on Tuesday in the Nations League.

"It's like going to a circus without clowns, going to a garden without flowers," Ronaldo said.

"We don't like that as players, but I'm already used to it. I do my pre-match meditation already knowing that the stadium will be empty."

Ronaldo said he even missed the opposing fans.

"It's sad," the Juventus forward said. "I like when I'm jeered in away matches, it motivates me. But health has to come first and we need to respect that. But it's sad."

Ronaldo said he hoped that "within a few months" fans could be back because they are the "joy" of the game.

With his goals against Sweden, Ronaldo became only the second male player to reach the century mark in international football. He trails only former Iran striker Ali Daei, who scored 109 goals for his national team. 

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.