Bellamy recalls Ronaldo’s airport lockdown before Wales face Portugal

When Craig Bellamy watched the Lisbon airport seal itself off, the Wales boss – then assistant to Vincent Kompany at Burnley – witnessed Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41‑year‑old Portugal legend, escorted by rows of police and security officials, turning a routine pre‑season trip into a surreal lockdown scene that left the Welsh manager describing the forward as “beyond a superstar”.

Ronaldo's glittering résumé

Cristiano Ronaldo earned his first of 233 Portugal caps in 2003 and has since compiled a trophy cabinet that includes five Ballon d’Or wins, eight league titles across the major European Leagues, five Champions League trophies, a European Championship and two Nations League crowns. The forward, now an Al‑Nassr player, recently confirmed the 2026 World Cup will be his last, yet he has not announced when he will finally hang up his boots, remaining in his 24th year as a senior Portugal international.

Bellamy recalled the scene vividly: “So we got to the airport and the police were everywhere. It was on lockdown.” He explained that Burnley’s chartered coach was forced to wait while officers sealed off the terminal, with police cars lining the concourse and officers even taking photographs of the star. “We thought something had happened, there must be a warning here,” he said.

The airport lockdown spectacle

One moment that stayed with him was the sight of Ronaldo walking alone through the police cordon. “We were stuck on the coach for 10, 15 minutes and suddenly a car pulled up, a man grabbed a rucksack and handed it to him,” Bellamy recounted. “It was the coolest walk I have ever watched for a minute,” he added, noting that the entire terminal seemed to pause as the legend passed.

Anthony Gordon says Premier League grind fuels Ballon d’Or ambition

The Welshman’s last on‑field encounter with the forward came in October 2008, when Ronaldo, then a Manchester United striker, scored twice as United beat West Ham United 2‑0 at Old Trafford in a Premier League fixture. Bellamy remembered the match as a reminder of the Portuguese star’s ability to dominate on the biggest stages.

Wales prepare for Portugal showdown

Wales open their Nations League A campaign on Thursday 24 September at the Estadio José Alvalade, Lisbon, against Portugal. Bellamy, aware that key squad members Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow, Nathan Broadhead, Dylan Lawlor, Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies are unavailable, urged his side to “stay excited but not too excited” and to fight for every minute to retain their place in League A.

Bellamy demands more after Portugal's narrow Nations League win

Reflecting on Ronaldo’s continued professionalism, Bellamy said, “I’m not surprised he is still playing with the professionalism he has shown. He knows how to protect himself, conserve his energy and still has the habit of goal‑scoring – he is beyond a superstar.” The Wales manager concluded that his own players must give everything if they hope to upset the star‑studded Portugal squad.