This is an incredible story. In 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo visited Georgia to inaugurate the FC Dinamo Tbilisi Academy. Tonight, 11 players from the academy will face Ronaldo at the Euros.
One of those young standouts, winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, crossed paths with Ronaldo that day. The 23-year-old’s career has since taken off, becoming the star of Napoli, who won the 2022-23 Serie A. New Napoli boss Antonio Conte plans to make Kvaratskhelia the center of the team’s rebuild this upcoming season.
But more pressing matters face Kvaratskhelia on Wednesday night as he and Kochorashvili, Chakvetadze, Davitashvili, and Mekvabishvili, who also met Ronaldo eleven years ago, face the unthinkable against Portugal.
Can Georgia pull off an upset in the nation’s first-ever Euro tournament?
After a 3-1 loss to Turkey in the tournament opener, the Georgia underdogs could advance to the next round if they beat Portugal tonight.
Of course, Ronaldo’s Portugal side have already advanced. Additionally, the 39-year-old expects to start again for Martinez’s side in the final group game.
Ronaldo has scored more goals than anyone in the Euros (14), and while he remains goalless this term, he has notched an assist. His eight assists make him the joint highest assist-leader of all time alongside Karel Poborsky.
Photo: x/timelinecr7
